Endocrine Abstracts

A 64-year-old woman who had been on Lithium 600 mg/day for 6 years for affective neurosis, presented in 2005 with acute confusion associated with a serum calcium concentration of 3.02 mmol/ which improved with rehydration. She was followed-up in outpatients and diagnosed with ‘Lithium-associated hypercalcaemia’ likely to be secondary to parathyroid hyperplasia. Results showed a corrected calcium of 2.74 mmol/l (2.1–2.55), phosphate 1.00 mmol/l (0.74–1.52), ...

A 32 year old women presented to her G.P.with a four month history of a lump in her neck, weight loss and anxiety. She had hyperthyroidism (TSH <0.1 mU/l, fT4 >100 pmol/l, TPO antibodies 318IU/ml). Thyroid U/S showed a 2x3cm nodule in the right lower pole. A thyroid isotope scan was reported as showing increased uptake throughout the gland with an area of decreased uptake in the right lower pole. She was started on carbimazole 30mg o.d. and she was referred to a head and ne...

A 32 year old Indian woman presented with a spontaneous patella fracture. Serum alkaline phosphatase was 3694 units per litre, calcium was 3.12 millimoles per litre and phosphate 0.81 millimoles per litre. Serum PTH concentration was >150 picomoles per litre and the 25-hyroxyvitamin D3 concentration was 7 nanomoles per litre. She was found to have a 5 cm parathyroid adenoma. A 44 year old Somalian woman presented to the rheumatology clinic with a 2 year history of aching in...

There is evidence from animal studies that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is essential for normal reproductive function. Vitamin D deficient rats have reduced fertility, and VDR null mutant mice demonstrate impaired folliculogenesis. We have recently demonstrated that 1,25(OH)2D3 suppressed the production of oestradiol (E2) independently of progesterone (P) in luteinised, but not in non-luteinised human granulosa cells, suggesting that 1,25(OH)<s...

1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 receptors (VDR) are present on rat granulosa cells and on human ovarian cancer cells, however little is known about 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) function in the ovary. Vitamin D deficient rats have reduced fertility, and VDR null mutant mice demonstrate impaired folliculogenesis. Vitamin D metabolites have been detected in follicular fluid. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a range of conce...

AMH causes regression of Müllerian ducts during male fetal development. Recently, AMH was detected in the adult ovary, principally in granulosa cells (GCs). Studies have demonstrated a 1.5–5 fold increase in serum AMH in women with PCOS compared to normal ovulatory women. The AMH rise was assumed to be secondary to increased numbers of follicles. Interestingly, the insulin sensitiser metformin, which is in widespread use in PCOS, caused a significant reduction in ser...

There is evidence from animal studies that 1,25-dihyroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) is essential for normal reproductive function. Vitamin deficient rats have reduced fertility and VDR null mutant mice demonstrate impaired folliculogenesis. One small uncontrolled study in humans has demonstrated that vitamin D replacement improves menstrual frequency and acne in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We have previously demonstrated that 1,25(OH)2D3 inh...