Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Hyperkalaemia, defined as potassium levels above 5.5 mmol/l, is a potentially life-threatening condition commonly seen in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Pseudohyperkalaemia is a false elevation of potassium observed in vitro, caused by potassium moving out of cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, or platelets) during or after blood sampling. This is often linked to high platelet counts (>450×10^9/l), due to potassium release from activated plate...

Introduction: Hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) is a rare form of treatment-resistant morbid obesity associated with hypothalamic damage. Its pathophysiology is incompletely understood, and is associated with hyperphagia and hyperinsulinaemia. We sought to compare the physiology of various appetite-regulating hormones in HyOb and ‘simple’ obesity.Methods: Oral glucose-stimulated serum insulin and plasma oxytocin concentrations, and fasting concentrat...