Endocrine Abstracts

Acute adrenal insufficiency, also termed adrenal crisis, is a life-threatening endocrine emergency due to a lack of production of the adrenal hormone cortisol (and also aldosterone in primary adrenal insufficiency). Patients with both primary (PAI) and secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI) are at risk of adrenal crisis. PAI is caused by loss of function of the adrenal gland itself resulting in both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiency. SAI is caused by alterations i...

A phaeochromocytoma is a catecholamine secreting tumour arising from the adrenal medulla and a paraganglioma refers to its extra adrenal counterpart, which can develop from sympathetic or parasympathetic tissue anywhere from the skull base to the pelvis. Presenting symptoms of these rare tumours are most commonly related to catecholamine excess, and include headache, palpitations, paroxysmal hypertension, anxiety, abdominal pain and excessive sweating. A phaeochromocytoma cris...

Thyroid storm is a rare medical emergency with high mortality and is difficult to diagnose and treat. The optimal treatment regimen is not clear, and options include combinations of beta blockade, high dose anti-thyroid drugs, potassium iodide, dexamethasone, iodinated contrast agents, plasmapheresis and dialysis. Patients with severe, uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis, unresponsive to anti-thyroid drug therapy, represent a group of patients in whom treatment can be particularly cha...