Endocrine Abstracts

We present a case of a 44-year-old chef, presenting with a fortnight’s history of a pruritic rash over his trunk and axillae. He was diagnosed to have hypertension, which was treated by lifestyle interventions. His diet was poor, and he drank 40 units of alcohol per week. His parents had hypercholesterolemia, but there was no history of premature coronary artery disease. On examination, his BMI was 31.62 kg/m2, and he had eruptive xanthomata on his chest, abdom...

Background: Integration between fat tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and the brain has attracted scientific interest in recent years. Thyroid hormones influence carbohydrate mechanisms via its interaction with adipocytokines and gut hormones. Adiponectin, ghrelin and obestatin play important roles in metabolism regulation. TSH receptors have been reported to be present in adipose tissue. Moreover, gut peptides signal to their functional cogna...

Background: Hyperprolactinaemia accounts for 1 in 7 patients presenting with amenorrhoea. Recent data suggests that prolactin acts at the hypothalamus to reduce GnRH-pulsatility. Conditions in which GnRH-pulsatility is reduced, such as hypothalamic amenorrhoea, favour FSH over LH secretion from the pituitary gland. We examined gonadotrophin secretion in hyperprolactinaemic patients as a surrogate marker of GnRH-pulsatility.Methods: A retrospective analys...

Introduction: The treatment of hyperthyroidism is complex. Radio-iodine administration remains the definitive option despite debate regarding optimum dosage and strategy.Method: Thyroid status in all patients receiving first dose radio-iodine over a 5 year period was reviewed at 3, 6, 12 and (most at) 24 months. Radio-iodine doses were individualised depending on thyroid gland size, co-morbidities and patient choice. The objective was euthyroidism with h...

Studies in the general population have shown a prevalence of the metabolic syndrome of 17-25%. We have studied the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 150 consecutive patients with type 1 (21%) or type 2 DM (79%), mean age 59.1y (28-85), attending for annual review were studied to determine if they satisfy (ATP III) diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome. Fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood ...

Background: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) account for 30-35% of pituitary adenomas. They can lead to hypopituitarism and visual field defects. Trans-sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma remains the treatment of choice.Methods: We compared clinical, biochemical, and imaging characteristics of NFPAs at presentation with post-surgical outcomes in a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent end...

Background: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) account for 30-35% of pituitary adenomas. They can lead to hypopituitarism and visual field defects. Trans-sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma remains the treatment of choice.Methods: We compared clinical, biochemical, and imaging characteristics of NFPAs at presentation with post-surgical outcomes in a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent end...