What is the desired therapeutic effect of administering mitotane to a patient with Cushing's disease?

Administering mitotane to a patient with Cushing's disease aims to achieve decreased cortisol levels. Mitotane is an adrenolytic agent that selectively targets adrenal cortex cells, leading to the destruction of these cells and, ultimately, a reduction in cortisol secretion. In patients with Cushing's disease, the overproduction of cortisol can result in various detrimental health effects, such as hypertension, obesity, and metabolic abnormalities. Therefore, the therapeutic goal of using mitotane is to lower cortisol to mitigate these symptoms and improve the patient's overall health outcome.

The decreased cortisol levels help restore balance to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and can relieve the harmful effects associated with excessive cortisol. By managing cortisol levels effectively, clinicians can help manage the manifestations of Cushing's disease and improve the patient's quality of life.