Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for the CV-CORT-EX study

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients with the initial, recurrent or former diagnosis of endogenous CS of any aetiology:

 - ACTH-dependent CS (i.e. due to a pituitary adenoma or an ectopic tumour)

 - ACTH-independent CS (i.e. due to an adrenal adenoma or hyperplasia)

• Patients with MACE, defined as the combination of an adrenal mass and a pathological 1-mg-DST serum cortisol of ≥1.8 μg/dl, but noclinical evidence of overt CS

• Age ≥ 18 years

• Written informed consent

Exclusion criteria:

• Current glucocorticoid pharmacotherapy (except hydrocortisone substitution therapy, usually applied after surgery for CS) or systemic glucocorticoid pharmacotherapy for > 12 months within the previous 3 years

• Structural heart disease or chronic heart failure (NYHA > II)

• Organ disease potentially affecting cardiac function

• ECOG status > 2

• Former or ongoing malignant diseases (including adrenocortical cancer) treated with (potentially) cardiotoxic therapy

• Arterial hypertension (uncontrolled despite > 3 antihypertensive drugs)

• Pregnancy

• Incompliance suspected or demonstrated

• Chronic renal failure (MDRD < 60 ml/min)