Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Iodine-131 (I-131) has been used to treat hyperthyroidism for half a century. Recent recommendations from the RCP London and British Thyroid Association suggest 400 MBq in most cases, but 500–600 MBq for toxic multinodular goitre (MNG). We have reviewed our clinic data with particular reference to response to a standard dose, 400 MBq, given to treat hyperthyroidism.Method: Casenotes of 88 patients who received 400 MBq I-131 for hyperthyr...

Midgut Carcinoid disease (MGC) is uncommon, occurring in approximately 1.4 per 100,000 of the population per year. MGC has an unpredictable disease progression varying from rapid and aggressive to slow and indolent. For this reason it is not appropriate to treat all patients according to the same schedule. As some treatments are not without risk, it is important to identify those patients selected for these options at an appropriate stage of disease.In a...

Introduction: Disruption of the hypothalamic dopaminergic inhibitory control of prolactin (PRL) secretion results in hyperprolactinaemia. We have previously shown in a large series of patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas that serum PRL virtually never exceeds 2000 mU/l in the absence of PRL elevating medications. Current data on the effect of other sellar/parasellar masses are limited.Objective: To investigate the range of PRL values at ...

BackgroundTransdermally absorbed alcohol-based testosterone gel has presented an alternative method of gonadal therapy. This study was designed to investigate the clinical effectiveness of this alternative hormonal replacement.Method97 men requiring testosterone replacement therapy for primary (21%) or secondary (79%) hypogonadism were recruited. The subjects underwent physical examination, psychological asse...

BackgroundThis study was designed to monitor the clinical effectiveness of transdermal replacement. Psychological well-being was assessed by questionnaire at 3, 6 and 12MethodWe recruited 97 men requiring testosterone replacement therapy for primary (21%) or secondary (79%) hypogonadism. All had a physical examination, biochemical and haematological blood sampling (Meston et al 2004) and psychological assessm...

BACKGROUND: Dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice in macroprolactinomas. A number of these tumours do not respond to the commonly used doses. In such cases the outcome after alternative approaches has not been clarified.AIM: To assess the response of macroprolactinomas to bromocriptine (BRC) or cabergoline (CAB) and the result of further interventions in resistant cases.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All records of the patients pres...

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LHy) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder of the pituitary with features mimicking those of sellar tumours, thereby often being misdiagnosed. However, no long-term follow-up studies have been published.OBJECT: To evaluate the clinical/radiological characteristics and the prognosis of patients with LHy.PATIENTS-METHODS: The records of the patients who presented to the Department of Endocrinology...

Background: Pituitary stalk compression by sellar/parasellar tumours [commonly non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) or craniopharyngiomas (CR)] is one of the causes of hyperprolactinaemia. However, in such cases the upper limits of serum prolactin (PRL) are not clearly defined ('grey zone': 3000-6000 mU/L) causing confusion in the differential diagnosis between disconnection hyperprolactinaemia and prolactin-secreting adenomas.Objective: To investiga...

Background: A hydrocortisone day curve can be used to assess a patient's steroid replacement. However the need for venous samples requires patients to be admitted to hospital either over-night or as a day case and tablet times may vary compared to the patients' usual practice.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients could collect capillary or salivary cortisol at home and whether these collections were reproducible.<p class=...

Background:Long acting somatostatin analogues are an effective treatment for acromegaly but require administration by nurses.To improve patient convenience we have taken care into the community with endocrine specialist nurse education of practice nurses in administration of injections.Methods:After an initial pilot study, a questionnaire was administered to patients receiving, and practice nurses administering, Somatuline Autogel(SA) n=10 and Sandostati...