Based on the provided reference, "SH disease" most likely refers to Subclinical Hypercortisolism (SH). This is a condition where there are alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, without the presence of the typical clinical signs or symptoms usually associated with excessive cortisol production. It's often found incidentally in patients who have adrenal incidentalomas (adrenal masses discovered unexpectedly during imaging for unrelated conditions).
In simpler terms:
- Hypercortisolism means having too much cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.
- Subclinical means that the usual symptoms are not obvious or present.
- The Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is a complex system regulating hormone production, including cortisol.
Therefore, subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) is a hormonal imbalance detected through testing, but without the noticeable physical signs often linked to high cortisol levels.
