Endocrine Abstracts

Dexamethasone is frequently used in diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of having Cushing's syndrome. We report the case of a young woman whose cortisol production paradoxically increased following dexamethasone administration. A 27 years old woman presented with intermittent facial rounding (see photos), weight gain (6 kg), hirsuitism, spontaneous bruising, menstrual irregularity. On examination the only feature to suggest Cushing's syndrome was very thin skin on the bac...

The TRH test is used in the diagnosis of hypothalamic-pituitary (hp) disorders in children. It is unclear how often the result of this test is helpful. We have examined the results of TRH testing in 143 children investigated primarily for disordered growth. Children with hp axis tumours were excluded.The TSH response to TRH (5microg/kg iv) was defined as abnormal if the peak TSH was <5mU/L (pituitary), or if the peak TSH at 60 mins was higher than at ...

Background: Glucorticoids can affect blood pressure in humans, as demonstrated most strikingly in Cushing’s syndrome. We have previously reported that total cortisol metabolite excretion is raised in obese subjects, while other investigations have identified genetically determined changes in glucocorticoid receptor function as contributors to hypertension. Furthermore, in essential hypertension, vasoconstrictor sensitivity to glucocorticoids is increased. Such raised sens...