Endocrine Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus results in a two to four-fold increased risk of dying from complications of cardiovascular disease. There is growing evidence that this risk can be reduced by low-dose aspirin. Evidence comes from studies of platelet function and aspirin pharmacology and from trials of primary and secondary prevention. The American Diabetes Association produced a position statement regarding guidelines for aspirin use in 1997.OBJECTIVES: To ...

Management of Thyrotoxicosis in a Non-compliant Pregnant WomanA 23-year-old woman with Grave's disease presented to thyroid clinic 29 weeks into her first pregnancy having recently moved into the area. She had failed to attend hospital thyroid clinics elsewhere and frequently changed her address.Despite propylthiouracil 300 mg daily she had marked tremor, tachycardia 100 bpm, ophthalmopathy, and a large smooth goitre. TSH <0.0...

A 56 year old female presents with the rare association of primary hyperaldosteronism with primary hyperparathyroidism and prolactinoma. The association of primary hyperaldosteronism and other endocrinopathies has only rarely been reported. There have been three case reports meeting diagnostic criteria for MEN 1 with aldosterone secreting adrenal adenomas. In all three the other endocrinopathies were pituitary adenomas and hyperparathyroidism.The case p...

We describe a case of chronic hypokalaemia secondary to Gitelman's syndrome. A 17 year female presented with a 1 year history of lethargy, muscle cramps and intermittent generalised abdominal pain. She took no regular medications and had no significant past medical history or family history. She was normotensive with a significant hypokalaemic, metabolic alkalosis. Sodium=135mmol/l, potassium=2.7mmol/l, creatinine=75micromol per litre, bicarbonate=36mmol/l. The hypokalaemia pe...

Vitamin D is commonly used in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery. It is well recognised that excess vitamin D therapy leads to hypercalcaemia, and that this effect may be prolonged, lasting upto several weeks with some vitamin D preparations. We describe a case of severe, life threatening hypercalcaemia from vitamin D therapy, in which the duration of action of vitamin D was exceptionally long. A 51 year old lady presented with acute, severe haemorrhagic...

A 73 year old man presented in 1995 with impotence and a bitemporal field loss. Endocrine testing revealed hyperprolactinaemia (2741 mU/L) and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Pituitary imaging confirmed the presence of a macroadenoma with significant suprasellar extension. He underwent uncomplicated transsphenoidal surgery, which was successful in decompressing the optic chiasm. Histology revealed a pituitary adenoma that immunostained weakly for prolactin only. In 1998 routin...

There are a range of screening and diagnostic tests for the investigation of short stature, some of which are unpleasant and even dangerous for the patient. Growth hormone (GH) heterogeneity and wide assay biases cause additional complications for interpretation of results. We have used questionnaires to assess protocols and practice in the investigation of short stature by paediatricians and clinical biochemists in Wales.Responses from laboratory staff ...

The gonadotrophin hormones comprise a common alpha subunit and a hormone specific beta subunit and their expression profiles differ during pituitary ontogeny. The transcriptional regulatory cascade that is required to mediate this is largely unknown. However, perturbation of the expression of homeodomain transcription factors, Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 1 (Pitx1) and Homeobox gene expressed in embryonic stem cells 1 (Hesx1) disparately affects gonadotrophin g...

Selenium is an essential element for humans. Important dietary sources of selenium include meat, seafood, and grains. Selenium is incorporated into a range of selenoenzymes with antioxidant properties. Being crucial for the activity of the deiodinase enzymes, selenium is especially important for the synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormones. Selenium in relation to thyroid diseases has been widely explored. Epidemiological studies have shown that a low selenium status is as...

The growth hormone receptor antagonist was discovered via expression of mutated GH genes in transgenic mice. Although we were attempting to generate potent GH analogs, our mouse studies indicated that the compound was ‘inhibiting’ GH action. We subsequently showed that it was a GH receptor antagonist, the first of its type. Many hurdles needed to be ‘jumped’ in the development of this compound into a drug including protection of intellectual property; fundi...