Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Carbimazole is a commonly used and effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. Although on the World Health Organisation’s list of essential medicines, it comes with the potentially significant side effect of agranulocytosis. We set out a Quality Improvement Project to improve communication with patients to ensure their understanding through creating a patient information leaflet.Methods: 30 patients receiv...

Background: Improved management for patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) has led to prolonged lifespan and an increase in patients with CCHD presenting with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) has been noted. PPGL susceptibility genes including VHL, SDH(x), FH, EPAS1 have been connected to a common signaling pathway that activates hypoxia-inducible factors. 4 of 5 patients with CCHD and PPGL were previously noted to have a somatic gain-of-function mutat...

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder affecting 9-18% of reproductive-aged women, impacts all body types including those with a normal body mass index (BMI) often termed lean or atypical PCOS. This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis experience in an international sample of lean women with PCOS.Methods: Participants were recruited from social media sites aimed at women with PCOS. Eligibility criteria included being &#88...

Background: New onset postmenopausal hyperandrogenism (PMH) is rare and is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.Clinical Case: AB, a 69-year woman, had 14-years of hirsutism and 1-year of male-pattern balding. Androgen profile was high: testosterone (T) 4.9nmol/L, androstenedione (A) 3.7nmol/L, 17OHP 2.3nmol/L. DHEAS and pre- and post-1 mg ONDST cortisol was normal. Adrenals and ovaries on CT were unremarkable, hence benign ovarian source assumed. She ...

Introduction: The term syndrome of ‘inappropriate secretion of TSH’ was originally coined to indicate two forms of central hyperthyroidism-resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) and thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSHomas). We present such a case that poses a diagnostic challenge.Case: A 44-year-old female presented with fatigue post COVID infection four months ago. Thyroid function tests (TFT) revealed high thyroid-stimulating hor...

Testosterone reduces myocardial ischaemia in men with coronary artery disease, and improves symptoms and exercise capacity in men with heart failure, effects proposed to be due to testosterone-induced coronary, systemic and pulmonary vasodilatation. Endothelial-independent calcium channel antagonism is proposed as the effector mechanism from in vitro animal studies, but this has yet to be confirmed in humans.In the present study we have investigated the ...

Background: During Covid-19 pandemic, we recognised the importance of optimising adrenal insufficient patients’ ability to manage adrenal crisis and seek medical intervention thereby reducing the need for more intensive support. Evidence suggests omission of steroids during an adrenal crisis is a medical emergency and can be fatal. Research by National Reporting Learning System (2020) identified 4 deaths, 4 admissions to critical care, 320 incidents relating to steroid re...

Gestational diabetes (GDM) occurs when beta-cell insulin secretory capacity is insufficient to meet the increased demands required to maintain normoglycemia during pregnancy. Considerable clinical evidence supports a link between depression and GDM, although underlying mechanisms are unclear. We used the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) rodent model of depression to examine the metabolic effects of depression in pregnant mice. C57BL/6J females were divided at 4-weeks-o...

Background: Pituitary radiotherapy (RT) is known to have metabolic, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications due to the effects of radiation on normal pituitary tissue and surrounding neurological structures.Objectives: Retrospective evaluation of effects of RT on pituitary dysfunction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardio- and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality in unselected consecutive pituitary adenomas ...

Case: We report a rare case of a primary cardiac paraganglioma. A 49-year-old male was found to have elevated3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) levels with normal metanephrines, having undergone a screening test following discovery of SDHB gene mutation, after his 10-year-old niece developed a phaeochromocytoma.The patient demonstrated no hypertension and did not bear signs of catecholamine excess, but on direct questioning...