Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) {CTLA4 and PD-1 inhibitors} have significantly improved outcomes and survival rates in patients with a number of cancers. In the UK, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab are approved for the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma. These are often long term therapies and are associated with immune mediated endocrinopathies.Case: A 70 year old male presented to the Medical Admissions Unit with a history of l...

Objective: To investigate vitamin D status in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism.Methods: The study group consisted of 100 patients with newly diagnosed Hashimato’s thyroiditis and 100 subjects as the control group. Parameters of calcium metabolism, thyroid function tests and 25(OH) vitamin D levels were measured.Results or case presentation: Mean age of the study groups was 33.4±4.8 years with female:male, 72:28. Vi...

Objective: To investigate vitamin D status in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism.Methods: The study group consisted of 100 patients with newly diagnosed Hashimato’s thyroiditis and 100 subjects as the control group. Parameters of calcium metabolism, thyroid function tests and 25(OH) vitamin D levels were measured.Results or Case Presentation: Mean age of the study study groups was 33.4±4.8 years with female:male=72:2...

The milk – alkali syndrome was well known in the pre-proton pump inhibitor era when remedies for peptic ulcer included a large amount of calcium and sodium bicarbonate resulting in hypercalcaemia, metabolic alkalosis and often acute kidney injury. In a study done from 1998 to 2003, milk alkali syndrome was the cause of hypercalcaemia in 8.8 percent of the cases which is a significant percentage, so awareness about it is important.<p class="abste...

The milk – alkali syndrome was well known in the pre-proton pump inhibitor era when remedies for peptic ulcer included a large amount of calcium and sodium bicarbonate resulting in hypercalcaemia, metabolic alkalosis and often acute kidney injury. In a study done from 1998 to 2003, milk alkali syndrome was the cause of hypercalcaemia in 8.8 percent of the cases which is a significant percentage, so awareness about it is important.<p class="abste...

Vitamin D is commonly used in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery. It is well recognised that excess vitamin D therapy leads to hypercalcaemia, and that this effect may be prolonged, lasting upto several weeks with some vitamin D preparations. We describe a case of severe, life threatening hypercalcaemia from vitamin D therapy, in which the duration of action of vitamin D was exceptionally long. A 51 year old lady presented with acute, severe haemorrhagic...

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is very common in older persons. It is not clear how serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels change during aging.Objective: To examine longitudinal changes in serum 25(OH)D levels in two representative cohorts of Dutch older persons during 6 and 13 years of follow-up, respectively.Methods: Data of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used, an ongoing cohort study in older persons. T...

Vitamin D is essential to the control of calcium homeostasis and is mainly provided by exposure to sunlight. In the UK circulating Vitamin D is subject to seasonal variation with peak values occurring in early Autumn and trough values in late Spring. Requests for Vitamin D assays are increasing but few laboratories quote seasonal reference ranges and many commercial suppliers quote reference ranges for populations living in warmer, sunnier climates. This study established seas...

One of the most significant health measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended periods of lockdown. Vitamin D is essential for many biological functions including pregnancy and bone health and modulate the immune system. Many studies also suggested a beneficial effect of replenished stores of vitamin D (25(OH)D >50 nmol/l) against severe and long term COVID-19 and self-supplementation is recommended by the government. Here we report on the vitamin D...

Results of several clinical studies have suggested that there is an excess risk of cardiovascular disease in persons with vitamin D deficiency.We examined association between serum levels of vitamin D - 25(OH)D and select cardiovascular risk factors in 254 postmenopausal women at a mean age of 55.38±205 years.Vitamin D levels, lipoproteins, TNF-α, Interleukin 6, adiponectin, insulin (using RIA methods) and glucose were as...