Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cinacalcet therapy remains the only alternative to elective parathyroidectomy (EP) for lowering serum calcium (Ca) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). National Institute of health and Care Excellence (NICE), UK support use of cinacalcet in symptomatic patients with PHPT who decline surgery (or deemed unfit for surgery), if serum Ca levels >2.85 mmol/l. The limitation in wider use of cinacalcet remains cost effectiveness apart from limited dat...

Introduction: The current Endocrine Society guidelines (2010) recommend biochemical and radiological evaluation of men with HH to ascertain underlying hypothalamic and/or pituitary aetiology although the cost-effectiveness of this strategy is yet to be established. We did a retrospective audit to ascertain epidemiology, management and diagnostic outcomes for men with HH in our hospital practice against the current Endocrine society guidelines.Methods: A ...

Introduction: A Nurse-led Thyroid Clinic (NLTC) in a tertiary-care Endocrinology centre (EC) in Oxford was set up in 2005. The patients were managed by an Endocrine Advanced Nurse Practitioner.Aims: To evaluate standard of clinical care (SOCC) quality of service provision (QOSP) and cost effectiveness (CE) of the NLTC.Methods: Three aspects of service were assessed:a) SOCC: ...

Background: The optimum management strategy for primary hyperparathyroidism remains debatable especially in patients with mild or asymptomatic disease. We aimed to compare the baseline characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who were either managed conservatively or underwent elective parathyroidectomy.Methodology: We carried out a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism under...

Neuroendocrine tumours of the GI tract originate from enterochromaffin cells. Somatostatin analogues are the mainstay drugs for therapy in these cancers as they ameliorate symptoms and lower hormone secretion, but only in 30–70% of patients. Such tumours are also associated with angiogenesis which has been used as a prognostic indicator; adenosine, the major regulator of angiogenesis, is released by enhanced degradation of ATP, during cellular stress, damage and hypoxia.<...

Background: Chromogranin A and B (CgA, CgB) are widely used as markers of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) disease. However, the sensitivity of the test is variable and the value of CgB measurement is unclear. We thus sought to review 3 years of CgA and CgB requests made in our hospital.Methods: CgA and CgB were measured at the Hammersmith Hospital. Case notes were reviewed in each of these patients.Results: There were 520 tests perform...

Background: Phaeochromocytomas (PHAEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare catecholamine producing tumours which are potentially lethal if left untreated and may be associated with a wide variety of complications. Optimum management demands multidisciplinary input from endocrinologists, biochemists, geneticists and endocrine surgeons.Objective: A retrospective audit into the management of PHAEOs/PGLs at our institution against the 2005 recommendations ma...

Background: The screening investigation of choice for phaeochromocytomas (PHAEO) and paragangliomas (PGL) in the UK is usually a 24 h urine collection for fractionated metadrenalines +/− free catecholamines. These assays have high diagnostic sensitivity (approaching 98%) but lower specificity.Aim: To review causes of false positive (FP) catecholamine and metabolite results in our centre over a 12-year period.Methods: Data wer...

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors of GI tract are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that secrete peptides and amines. These tumors are highly vascular and their vascularity reflects increased tumour related angiogenesis. Adenosine, a major regulator of angiogenesis, is released by enhanced degradation of ATP, during cellular stress, damage and hypoxia.Material and methods: The expression of adenosine receptors (AR) was investigated in two human n...

Background: Magnesium, the second most abundant intracellular cation, plays a key role in cellular and metabolic reactions including protein synthesis, neurotransmission and electrolyte balance. There are no specific signs or symptoms of hypomagnesaemia and it can coexist with other electrolyte abnormalities. According to various surveys the prevalence of low Magnesium varies between 2–10% in hospitalized patients. However, there are no clear guidelines about when to scre...