Endocrine Abstracts

In order to assess the frequency and timing of recurrence in a group of patients with Graves’ disease and the predictors of recurrence, 197 patients were sampled, who were first seen in the OCDEM clinic in either 2001 or 2002 and put on anti-thyroid medication. Graves’ disease was diagnosed by the presence of low TSH levels ± symmetrical goitre ± uniform radioactive iodine uptake ± eye disease ± high levels of thyroid hormones. Patients with <...

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment with high glucocorticoid doses. In diagnosed Addison’s disease between 3.8% and 29% of patients are estimated to need emergency hospital treatment per annum (Arlt & Allolio, 2003; Fleming & Ostergaard Kristensen, 1999).In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey of diagnosed Addison’s patients to date (N=868), enquiring about the causes and fre...

Autoimmune hypoadrenalism (Addison’s disease) is a rare condition with a European prevalence of up to 140 per million1. It frequently occurs in association with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, both endocrine and non-endocrine. These conditions are recognised to occur in the extended family, but their prevalence has been hard to determine, because of the rarity of the disease.In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey ...

Hyperprolactinaemia in association with a large sellar lesion could represent either tumoural secretion of prolactin (PRL) or stalk disruption by a non-prolactinoma: the differentiation has important therapeutic consequences. We have previously shown that based on currently used assays disconnection hyperprolactinaemia associated with non-functioning adenoma (NFA) practically never exceeds levels above 2000 mU/l. We aimed to verify our proposed disconnection hyperprolactinaemi...

The guidelines for the treatment of pituitary apoplexy have now been published in Clinical Endocrinology (Clin Endocrinol 2011 Jan;74(1):9–20). These resulted from a group set up during the London pituitary multidisciplinary meeting.Classical pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency and rapid replacement with hydrocortisone maybe life saving. It is a clinical syndrome characterised by the sudden onset of headache, vomiting, visual imp...

Poor transitional care leads to increased loss to follow up, non-adherence to treatment, high morbidity and mortality. The paediatric and adult endocrinology teams in our Trust have been running a joint transition service since 10/2000. A review of this service was undertaken, in order to examine its effectiveness and to aid its improvement.The details of all 81 patients, who had been through transitional care between 10/00-09/09 were acquired. Their rec...

Introduction and aim: An e-mail based GP advisory service was launched by the authors’ centre in 2005. The PCT commissioned the service in July 2009. Enquiries are handled by specialist registrars with consultant supervision. The charge is £23/enquiry.Pre-commissioning, annual audits demonstrated an efficient and popular service, enhancing communication links between primary and secondary/tertiary care.We re-audited the s...

Introduction: Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (ECS) accounts for approximately 10% cases of Cushing’s syndrome. Its recognition may be delayed and its diagnosis and treatment remain challenging.Aim: To analyze the clinical, biochemical, radiological features, as well as the outcome of patients with ECS presenting in a tertiary referral centre.Material and methods: The records of patients with ECS followed presenting in our Dep...

Background: Phaeochromocytomas (PHAEO) and paragangliomas (PGGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumours. The traditional ‘10%’ teaching mnemonic has recently been challenged.Methods: Clinical and biochemical/pathological data were collected prospectively. A 24-h urine sample for metanephrine assay was used for postoperative biochemical follow-up.Results: Between ‘Jan 89 and June 10’ 110 patients were operated for PHAEO...

Background: Clinical experience has shown that men over 60 years of age frequently (40%) require extended intervals of greater than 12 weeks between administrations of Nebido. No work has assessed whether this is specific to men over 60 years of age.Methods: We analysed men on Nebido over 60 years (n=12, mean age 66 years) and compared them with a BMI matched group aged 40–60 years. We assessed testosterone levels, injection intervals, PSA an...