Iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome Caused by Artri Ajo King and Literature Review

Lee JS, Lim SH and Mikhail N

Published on: 2025-10-07

Abstract

Health supplements are widely used but remain largely unregulated, contributing to thousands of emergency visits each year, with health effects ranging from mild to life-threatening. Of these supplements, Artri Ajo King is a popular supplement marketed for pain relief and joint support, and has been associated with iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome. We report a case of a 63-year-old male patient with an extensive 15-year history of daily Artri Ajo King use, found to have chronic iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome. A review of the literature identified 30 published cases of iatrogenic adverse effects associated with Artri Ajo King. Collectively, these cases underscore the critical importance of obtaining a comprehensive history of all medications and supplements to ensure accurate diagnosis, guide appropriate management, and minimize the risk of adverse outcomes.