Endocrine Abstracts

A relapse rate of more than 50% is quoted for patients with Graves’ Disease (GD) treated with anti-thyroid drugs. Our aim was to audit the outcome/relapse rate and possible predictive factors in a series of patients managed in our Nurse-led Thyroid Clinic (NLTC). The notes of patients with newly-diagnosed GD seen in the NLTC between 2005–2011 who had completed 18 months of anti-thyroid drug were reviewed: 60 patients (48 females) were identified. After 18 months of t...

Background: Acute adrenal insufficiency leads to potentially life threatening crises if increases in steroids are delayed or insufficient. The patient is central to early increases in dosage and informing Healthcare Professionals of their steroid-dependency.Methods: To assess adequacy of information given to cortisol deficient patients we performed an audit of case notes documentation. The audit was performed over four weeks, involving 32 patients from t...

Hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease (GD) is traditionally managed in the secondary care ambulatory setting. Conventionally patients are required to attend for regular review at 4–12 weekly intervals, presenting practical difficulties for many adults. Nurse-led Telephone Consultations are gaining momentum in the care of long-term conditions. This Service Development Project (SDP) addressed whether or not a specialist nurse delivered telephone consultation could be ...

We have come a long way in the last ten years towards meeting the educational needs of nurses specialising in adult endocrinology. Endocrine nurses are now able to access annual training courses (renamed updates in 2010) and attend specific nurse-led sessions at scientific meetings thanks to the ongoing work undertaken by the Society for Endocrinology’s nurse committee. It is therefore time to turn our attention to how we can encourage nurses to want to specialise in endo...

Zoledronic acid (5 mg) is used as an annual intravenous infusion for the treatment of post menopausal Osteoporosis, Paget's disease, Hypercalcaemia and more recently complex regional pain syndrome. Zoledronic acid is a potent anti-resorptive preparation used to slow bone breakdown, increase bone density and decrease the amount of Calcium released from the bones into the blood. Previously patients were reviewed in the outpatients clinic whereby bloods tests, Parathyroid hormone...

Aim: Audit was carried out in accordance with trust policy to review all adult patients initiated on Growth Hormone during the period April 2009 to April 2011 and primarly to evaluate efficacy and to ascertain if care is consistent with NICE guidelines.Method: Medical notes of all patients initiated on Growth Hormone during the stated period were retrieved. The cases we're audited against criteria 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 as specified in NICE guideline TA 64, Ap...