Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction:Hypothyroidism may be associated with bradycardia, low voltage complexes,ST-T wave changes, atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disturbances. Extrasystoles and tachyarrhythmias of both atrial and ventricular origins have been described in hypothyroidism with the ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with prolonged QT interval.Aims: To ascertain the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in primary hypothyroidism.<p class="abste...

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension with hypokalaemia suggests primaryaldosteronism, which is confirmed by high plasma aldosterone with low renin concentrations. CT and MRI scans frequently fail to detect small primary aldosteronomas, and may incorrectly identify ' incidentalomas', so adrenal vein sampling is needed.AIM: To review the clincal and biochemical results on 12 patients who had catheter sampling of adrenal and ivc aldosterone(A) and Cortisol (C)with calculation of Aldosteron...

The insidious onset of symptoms and slow progression of acromegaly often results in a delay in diagnosis for several years. We report an unusual case who presented with progressive lymphoedema of the lower limbs 25 years before the diagnosis of acromegaly became apparent.A 51 year old lady presented to the surgical outpatient clinic with a twenty four year history of bilateral leg swelling and hypertension of 21 years duration. There was no antecedent h...

Phaeochromocytoma crisis is a rare life-threatening emergency and a diagnostic challenge.Over a 5 year period four patients (2 male, mean age of 38.5 years, range 29-51 years) presented to our intensive care unit with unexplained severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Other clinical features included pulmonary infiltrates (4/4), vomiting (3/4), palpitations (2/4), breathlessness (4/4), acute renal failure (2/4), fever (1/4) and abdominal discomfort (1/4). Hypertension was pre...

Aim: To ascertain the types of treatment, results and correlation between GH and the simultaneous IGF-1. Setting: Endocrine and Neurosurgical Unit. Methods: Endocrine and laboratory database of 17 acromegalic patients (11 male) with mean (SD) age 51(3) years and follow up 11 years. Results: Pituitary surgery 11 patients (3 twice), external radiotherapy 10 (one heavy particle therapy). GH levels have come down from a median value 32.5 mU per litre (Mean plus/minus SEM: 51.9 plu...

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition caused by pituitary infarction or haemorrhage. We have retrospectively analysed 16 patients (10 male, 6 female) with pituitary apoplexy, who presented to our institutions between 1992-2002. The mean age at presentation was 49 years (range 24-72). Only two (12%) patients had previously known pituitary tumours. Pituitary apoplexy was precipitated by major surgery in two patients (coronary artery bypass graft...

INTRODUCTION: Hyperprolactinaemia frequently causes secondary hypogonadism through central suppression of gonadotropin secretion. Macroprolactinomas (>1cm diameter) may additionally cause more generalised hypopituitarism; a recent series finding the prevalence of TSH and ACTH deficiencies to be 35% and 9%, respectively. Recovery of the thyrotropic and/or corticotropic axes is well described following surgery to pituitary tumours, but remains poorly defined in relation to me...