Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: It is known that certain endocrine disorders are related to each other and occur together due to their autoimmune aetiology. Patients with an autoimmune disease must be considered at risk for other autoimmune disease. Addison’s disease usually presents with recurrent hypoglycaemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus.We present a case Addison’s disease in type 1 diabetes presenting with severe hyperglycaemia.<p class="abs...

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome is characterised by glucocorticoid excess. This is more commonly caused by excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) produced either by a pituitary tumour (Cushing’s disease) or ectopic secretion. An example of the latter is the production of ACTH by a lung carcinoma (typically small cell)1. Other causes of Cushing’s syndrome include long term steroids or adrenal carcinoma.Case history: A 62-year...

Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency in the adult is associated with sub-optimal bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced bone turnover. GH replacement therapy results in increased bone turnover and new bone formation with biphasic changes in BMD: We report a case in which the anabolic effects of GH on bone precipitated profound Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency.The patient 56-year-old man with panhypopituitarism following treatment for acromegaly commenced adult GH ...

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is characterised by recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis, thrompocytopenia and/or recurrent fetal loss in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may be seen in-patients with established Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or alternatively as isolated disease in-patients with no evidence of a lupus type abnormality. Antiphospholipid antibodies have been also associated with a variety of neurological and car...

INTRODUCTION: Brittleness is a well-known phenomenon in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The possibility of a similar theme in the context of Addison's disease is not well established. CASE STUDY: We describe a 22-year-old woman who has had Addison's disease since the age of 9 years and type 1 DM since the age of 18 years. She was admitted with acute medical problems 47 times and attended OPD clinics on 17 occasions in 5 years (1996-2000). Of these, 29 inpatient an...