Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism is the third most common endocrine condition in pregnancy after thyroid disease and diabetes. Untreated hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism increases the risk of miscarriage, intrauterine death and preterm labour. Pharmacological and surgical limitations in pregnancy often make diagnosing and managing this condition challenging. We report a complex case of hypercalcaemia-induced -psychosis due to primary hyperparathyroidism...

Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) have premature Cardiovascular disease and have a standardised mortality ratio nine times greater than normal. FH must therefore be correctly diagnosed and treated aggressively. Referral for FH is based on fulfilling the Simon Broome’s (SB) Criteria. We aimed to evaluate practice at Queen Alexandra Hospital with regards to referral for FH genetic mutation. We set out to see whether SB’s criteria were being fulfilled wh...

We live in a world where neurosurgeons still prescribe salt tablets and fludrocortisone for hyponatraemia, and think cerebral salt wasting syndrome happens on a weekly basis. Neurosurgeons clearly need help, and the world of endocrinology needs to stage an interventionPituitary surgery is almost exclusively based in tertiary referral centres where neurosurgical departments are sited, often with en...

Graves’ disease is characterised by an autoimmune response to the TSH receptor leading to circulating stimulatory TSH receptor antibodies (TRAbs) which directly cause hyperthyroidism and goitre. Patients with thyroid eye disease, children and teenagers, and those with large goitre, severe hyperthyroidism or high TRAb titres have unmet clinical needs and frequently have unsatisfactory outcomes with current therapies. In common with all other antibodies, TRAbs are secreted ...

Abstract unavailable....

Abstract unavailable....

It is obvious that adrenal cortex is plastic, with adrenal atrophy and functional hypoadrenalism during exogenous glucocorticoid therapy; yet adrenal hyperplasia and hyperfunction during stimulation from ACTH during Cushing’s disease. This is owing to subcapsular adrenocortical stem cells that regenerate the zones of adult adrenal cortex throughout life.We have performed a series of experimental medicine trials in order to explore the idea that auto...

Addison’s disease is a good therapeutic target for regenerative medicine, as adrenal cell mass and steroidogenesis have clear intrinsic plasticity, as determined by circulating ACTH concentrations. With the advent of the biological agents as disease-modifying therapy for inflammatory arthritis and their experimental use in several other autoimmune conditions including type 1 diabetes, we undertook a pilot study of immunomodulatory therapy in patients with autoimmune Addis...

Growth retardation is often observed in patients suffering from chronic diseases. Factors involved in growth delay are multiple. They can be divided into two groups: those due to the disease itself and those due to treatments. Under nutrition is frequently reported in chronically ill children, due to an imbalance between decreased caloric intake and increased energy requirements. Malabsorption, dehydration, chronic anaemia, inflammation also impact growth, as well as steroid t...

Endocrine management of the patient with coeliac disease (CD) can be divided between management of the long-term consequences of malabsorption and timely identification and treatment of associated autoimmune disorders. CD patients have chronic calcium and vitamin D malabsorption at diagnosis, leading to secondary hyperparathyroidism, which is frequently associated with hypocalcaemia, low BMD and osteopenia. In many cases these will improve following institution of a gluten-fre...