Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies are the serological hallmark of autoimmune thyroid disease and are often used for the establishment of the diagnosis of Graves’ disease (GD).Aim: To investigate the diagnostic value of the anti-TPO antibodies in a series of patients with GD.Patients and methods: All patients presenting to our Department with GD between 1/2004-6/2007 were studied. The diagnosis was based on t...

Background: Treatment of patients with acromegaly caused by pituitary adenoma with somatostatin analogues leads to significant tumour shrinkage in 23–73% of the cases. Although not widely accepted, it has been suggested that the surgical remission rate may be improved by pre-operative treatment with these agents.Aim: To assess whether the degree of tumour shrinkage by lanreotide offered pre-operatively affects the surgical success in acromegalics wi...

Background: Nadir GH<2 mU/l in OGTT, normal IGF-I and mean GH<5 mU/l in the growth hormone day curve (GHDC) are considered the therapeutic endpoints in patients with acromegaly. However, discrepancies between these parameters have been reported.Aim: To compare the utility of the above tests in assessing the acromegaly status following surgical treatment.Patients and methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients (16 females) diag...

Introduction: Ghrelin is a novel peptide involved in the regulation of appetite and energy balance. Dysregulation of ghrelin may play a role in the development of obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Due to the strong association between BMI and PCOS, we hypothesised that obese women with PCOS have abnormal fasting and post-glucose load ghrelin levels compared with BMI-matched control women.Methods: Datasets included 18 women with PCOS, all with ...

We have studied 20 patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism on large doses of daily thyroxine that were referred to our departments with concerns regarding possible thyroxine malabsorption or compliance issues. Here we describe 3 patients seen in Oxford. One patient had coeliac disease. The other two patients had no history of malaborption and were coeliac antibody negative. None of the 3 patients were on medication which would interfere with thyroxine absorption. All were fema...

Introduction: Although acromegaly and pituitary gigantism have the same pathological cause, they have different disease characteristics.Aim: To study tumour size, treatment course and the most common comorbidities in a population with young-onset acromegaly.Materials and Methods: UK Acromegaly Register (UKAR, 22 centres, 1997-2017) retrospective analysis, enriched with patients from the FIPA-consortium. We defined gigantism as diag...

There is growing recognition within Endocrinology physician and patient groups of morbidity and mortality in association with prescribing errors and dysnatraemia, in hospitalised patients with cranial diabetes insipidus (CDI). The aims of this study were firstly, to assess outcomes in hospitalised patients with CDI by review of electronic records from 2012-2021, and secondly, to assess the same patient cohort’s perceptions of their care via telephone questionnaire. 109 pa...

Background: Patient experience is a crucial part of patient care, but is not systematically assessed. In light of this we performed a UK-wide survey to understand the care experiences of patients with pituitary conditions over the preceding three years.Methods: In collaboration with patients and pituitary experts a web-based survey was designed, aimed at patients 18yrs and over. Specific topics included: assessment of information provision, communication...

Background: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) can be of autoimmune origin (Addison’s disease, AD) or due to inborn disorders of steroidogenesis (congenital adrenal hyperplasia, CAH). Prognosis of patients with PAI has improved considerably after glucocorticoid replacement therapy became available. However, even in recent years, an increased risk of death has been described in both AD and CAH patients. Moreover, even with the current state-of-the-art replacement therapy,...

Introduction: Data on the mortality of patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFA) are limited. Aim: To assess the mortality of patients with NFA and predictive factors.Patients/methods: All patients presenting to our Department with NFA between 1963 and 2011 were studied. Status was recorded as either dead or alive, as of 31 December 2011.Results: 546 patients (333 males) were identified (median age at surgery 58.7 ...