Endocrine Abstracts

The clinical relevance of macroprolactin and its prevalence among those with 'hyperprolactinaemia' are unclear(1). Macroprolactinaemia has often been described as asymptomatic, benign and not related to pituitary disease(2,3,4). Recent reports, however, suggest that macroprolactinaemia is common among those with 'hyperprolactinaemia', can often be symptomatic and may be occasionally associated with pituitary adenoma(5,6). Pituitary imaging has been recommended in all symptomat...

The clinical relevance of macroprolactin and its prevalence among those with 'hyperprolactinaemia' are unclear(1). Macroprolactinaemia has often been described as asymptomatic, benign and not related to pituitary disease(2,3,4). Recent reports, however, suggest that macroprolactinaemia is common among those with 'hyperprolactinaemia', can often be symptomatic and may be occasionally associated with pituitary adenoma(5,6). Pituitary imaging has been recommended in all symptomat...

Background: Recommendations for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma are based on individual institutional experience but have traditionally advocated concurrent measurement of urine and plasma catecholamines. However, reports of phaeochromocytoma presenting with normal catecholamines suggest that this practice is insufficiently sensitive. In phaeochromocytoma there is an increased output of metadrenaline metabolites with a disproprtionate increase in the unconjugated form and e...

A 43 year old man presented following a seizure. Past history included cranial irradiation 18 years ago for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Blood pressure was 100/66 with a postural drop. Examination revealed a bilateral sixth nerve palsy. The only biochemical abnormality on admission was a serum sodium of 117 millimoles per litre. A cranial CT scan was normal.Further investigation included thyroid stimulating hormone of 3.92 milliunits per litre, a free T4 of 4 picomoles ...

Thiazolidinediones and biguanides improve insulin resistance and are used in the management of type 2 diabetes. Use of biguanides is associated with a reduction in vascular complications in patients with diabetes. Pre-clinical studies with thiazolidinediones suggest improvements in vascular function and long-term clinical trials in type 2 diabetes are in progress. These effects are proposed to be mediated through inhibition of complex 1 in the mitochondrial respiratory chain a...