Endocrine Abstracts

Neuroendocrine tumours are slow growing and could be mistaken for other more malignant tumours with poorer prognosis. Their secretory profile may alter with time. The importance of awareness of these tumours and their clinical behaviour is illustrated by the case of a 78-year-old woman who presented with recurrent fasting hypoglycaemia.The patient had been diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma a year previously on the basis of radiographic ...

A 59-year-old lady presented with 2 days of increasing confusion, hallucinations and drowsiness. Her family reported lethargy, weight gain and changing appearance over several months.On examination she was profoundly hypothyroid with typical coarsened facial features and dry skin. She had pulsus paradoxus, BP 120/70mmHg and Glasgow coma scale was 11/15. She was transferred to our care.Free thyroxine was <3.0pmol/L and TSH 30.8mu...

A 67 yr old lady was admitted with left ventricular failure, angina, and atrial fibrillation. She was hypokalaemic (2.5mmol/l). There was a 3 year history of hypertension and a new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. There was a recent history of weight gain, muscle weakness, bruising and facial puffiness. On examination she appeared cushingoid. A 24 hour urine for free cortisol was 1438nmol\/24h (normal<350). A basal 0800h serum cortisol was 1061nmol/l. After low dose dexameth...

Introduction: Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects 1 in 6 pregnancies globally, increasing babies’ risk of being born large-for-gestational-age (LGA). This can cause birth injuries and predisposes offspring to developing cardio-metabolic disease in adulthood. The cause of LGA in GDM is unclear, however GDM placentas have been shown to display abnormal morphology indicative of vascular network immaturity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known regulators of vascular development, inclu...

Background: The third generation thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) assay has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing Graves’ disease (GD). Circulating levels of TRAbs predict the disease course of Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) and remission rates in GD. However, the relationship between TRAb and thyroxine (FT4) and the factors affecting their interaction are unclear.Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted to evalua...

Background: The third generation thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) assay has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing Graves’ disease (GD). Circulating levels of TRAbs predict the disease course of Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) and remission rates in GD. However, the relationship between TRAb and thyroxine (FT4) and the factors affecting their interaction are unclear.Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted to evalua...

Background: Hyperglycaemic emergencies (HEs) continues to be important causes of morbidity and mortality among persons with diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are the two most common acute metabolic complications seen in persons with diabetes mellitus.Objective: To describe the clinical presentation and outcome of patients with hyperglycaemic emergencies.Materials and methods:...

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Its prevalence is increasing worldwide due to the transition phase. The present prevalence of DM is projected to double in the year 2035.Materials and methods: This is an ongoing prospective observational study. Subjects were persons who had been diagnosed of DM using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and had been on treatment for at least six months. S...

Background: The use of intra-articular (IA) glucocorticoids for reducing pain and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory arthropathies is widespread among primary care physicians, specialists and non-specialists in the United States. Injectable glucocorticoids have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which can be effective in improving clinical parameters such as pain, range of motion, and quality of life. After inject...

Background: Ectopic pituitary adenomas are defined by the presence of adenomatous pituitary tissue outside the sella and distinctly separate from the pituitary gland. Ectopic ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas (EAPAs) are a rare cause of Cushing’s syndrome. Detecting these radiologically can prove difficult, in part, due to their typically small size and unpredictable anatomical location.Aim: We reviewed the current literature on all previously repor...