Endocrine Abstracts

Background: It is well established that patients with acromegaly have compromised quality of life both during active disease, as well as whilst on remission. (1). In the recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on the importance of considering health-related quality of life (QoL) outcomes in the care of patients with acromegaly. The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust introduced and implemented the use of a holistic needs assessm...

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected patient care and experience. We assessed the evolution of NET patient perceptions during and peri-pandemic via a bespoke patient satisfaction survey.Methods: In February 2022, questionnaires with a pre-paid return envelope were posted out to 87 randomly selected NET patients, treated between January and December 2021. This consisted of 29 questions covering: initial contact, physician care and support, ill...

Background: Covid 19 infection has previously been reported to be associated with worsening of pre-existing and new onset diabetes mellitus1. However, the association of new onset autoimmune diabetes mellitus after Covid vaccination is not fully recognised in the literature.History: We report the case of a 58-year-old healthy woman who received a Covid 19 vaccination on 14th of Nov 2021. 2 weeks subsequently she was admitted with headache, blurred vision...

Introduction: TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas) are rare pituitary tumours treated primarily with surgery; in cases of surgical failure, somatostatin analogue (SSA) or radiotherapy are further options. SSAs are rarely used as monotherapy; if responsive and in the absence of radiotherapy, the requirement of life-long medical treatment, is unknown. Herein, we present a patient with a TSHoma who remains in remission three years after SSA withdrawal.<p class="abstext"...

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease of the human brain characterized by memory impairment and disturbance in at least one other thinking function. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the kind of diabetes mellitus (DM) that occurs due to the absence or deficiency of insulin receptors and it is usually referred to as maturity-onset DM. The hippocampus, and frontal area of the brain are areas with receptors for insulin, meaning that the hippocampus structure is majorly damaged...

Introduction: Patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TPS) may develop water balance disorders post-operatively, with diabetes insipidus (DI) being the most common. Nonetheless, data on the prevalence of post-operative DI are not consistent necessitating a systematic review of the literature.Aim: To estimate the prevalence of DI following TPS in patients with pituitary adenomas (PAs), craniopharyngiomas and Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCCs)...

Case history: A 43-year-old man was admitted to Intensive care with life-threatening pneumonia, along with acute hypertension and hypokalaemia. There were several Cushingoid clinical features, therefore ectopic ACTH syndrome was suspected.Investigations: The diagnosis of severe ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome was confirmed with unsuppressed cortisol after low dose dexamethasone (763 nmol/l with ACTH 131 ng/l, 24-h urinary cortisol levels (x2) of >...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an endocrine disorder due to deficient adrenal corticosteroid synthesis inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is characterized by reduced negative feedback inhibition of cortisol with or without alteration in adrenal mineralocorticoid and androgen secretion. Ninety percent of cases of CAH is due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Classical CAH presents in new-born or in early childhood with ambiguous genitalia and/or sa...

Case history: A 59-year-old male presented to gastroenterology with a two years of high volume persistent watery diarrhoea. He gave a past medical history of poorly controlled, insulin treated diabetes mellitus present for 8 years. He reported abdominal pain and diarrhoea that persisted despite fasting. A colonoscopy with biopsy were reported as normal. Diarrhoea, malaise, fatigue and weight loss persisted.Investigations: Stool culture and faecal elastas...

Case History: A thirty year old female presented to hospital after a first seizure. She had no significant past medical history. She had a one week history of recurrent frontal headaches and had noticed irregular periods. There were no clinical features of acromegaly. CT and MRI brain imaging showed a 5 cm mass arising from the pituitary fossa, extending into the suprasellar cistern and anterior cranial fossa. There was evidence of mass effect on the optic nerves and optic chi...