[Therapeutic strategy in the hypertension of Cushing's disease].

The hypertension of Cushing's disease regresses in about two thirds of cases after specific treatment of this condition. The therapeutic possibilities available at present include the synthetic anticortisol drugs (OP'DDD, aminoglutethimide) adenomectomy and hypophyseal radiotherapy and, finally, bilateral adrenalectomy. The indications of one or the other forms of treatment depend on the presence of a patent hypophyseal tumour, the age of the patient and the stage of the disease. The hypertension requires treatment either because of its severity from the outset or its persistence after treatment of the Cushing's disease. Betablockers or central sympatholytic drugs like clonidine, are then used in monotherapy of first intention. Diuretics should be avoided whenever possible because of the risk of adrenal insufficiency after reduction of the hypercorticism.