Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Steroid cell tumors are rare ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors with malignant potential comprising <0.1% of all ovarian tumors. A subtype called not otherwise specified (NOS) accounts for approximately one-half of all ovarian steroid cell tumors. The average age of presentation is 43 years, with androgenic clinical features in 56–77% of cases.Case report: A 21-year-old female, on liver transplantation waiting list due to Niemann&#150...

Background: Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage (Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome) is a rare consequence of sepsis (usually a result of meningococcal infection), with an estimated 15% mortality. Despite the predominant association with meningococcal infection, there are other recognised aetiologies: sepsis resulting from other organisms, and non-infectious causes, such as anticoagulant treatment, trauma and postoperative adrenal haemorrhage.Case report: A...

Introduction: Amyloidosis results from deposition of insoluble proteins in the extracellular space. It can be both primary or secondary to chronic inflammatory diseases. Although microscopic thyroid involvement is common, cases in which it becomes clinically evident (amyloid goiter) are rare.Case report: Woman, 45 years. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease after Bartholin’s gland abscess excision and evaluation for weight loss, anem...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in the outpatient setting, and a single parathyroid adenoma is usually the culprit. Clinical presentation is commonly dictated by hypercalcemia. Symptoms can range from mild non-specific malaise and gastrointestinal disturbances, through bone disease, kidney stones, cardiovascular and neuromuscular dysfunction to, ultimately, coma and death. However, the vast majority of patien...

Introduction: Hypothyroidism can affect the nervous system, commonly causing mono and polyneuropathies which show a variable frequency and pattern. Its mechanisms are not fully understood. Symptoms usually correlate better with the duration of the dysfunction rather than with its severity and typically improve significantly after medical therapy.Case report: A 58-year-old woman was admitted at our hospital with a one-year history of progressive weakness ...

Background: Diabetes is an important risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Although the increased risk for MACE is well known, the impact on the in-hospital outcomes remains incompletely understood. Our aim was to evaluate the interrelation between diabetes and MACE in a central hospital in the North of Portugal between 2009 and 2015.Methods: We evaluated retrospectively the hospitalizations due to MACE including stroke or transient...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent cause of infertility. Its influence on the results of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is controversial, and generally not isolated from the effect of obesity. A relationship between the FSH receptor (FSHR) polymorphism Asn680Ser and the risk and phenotype of PCOS has been studied with conflicting results.Objectives: To analyze the influence of obesity and PCOS on the gonadal axis...

Introduction: The anatomical and physiological changes induced by bariatric surgery (BS) can significantly impact the absorption and pharmacokinetics of orally administered medication. In particular, levothyroxine (LT4) dosage, given its dependence on patient’s weight and gastric pH for optimal absorption, is expected to change following BS. However, the literature is not unanimous and there is a void of longer-term studies. We aimed to compare LT4 dosage 4 years followin...

Background: Transphenoidal surgery is still the best initial therapy for Cushing’s disease (CD), with a high probability of cure and few risks or complications. However, pharmacotherapy has a role as primary or adjunctive therapy: when surgery is delayed, in case of postoperative persistence or recurrence of hypercortisolism, or while waiting for radiotherapy effectiveness. Ketoconazole, a steroidogenesis inhibitor, is nowadays the main drug used to CD control by reducing...

Introduction: Obesity has been associated with increased androgenicity in women, however there are conflicting data on this subject. Objectives: To determine whether any androgen is independently related to body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or age. To access if there is an association between elevated plasma androgen levels and the presence of either morbid obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS).Design and Methods: A total of 148 obese women we...