Endocrine Abstracts

A 30-year-old Eritrean female presented with a 1 month history of nausea and vomiting, with 15 kg weight loss but no bowel disturbance. Past medical history included an open cholecystectomy. There was no family history of mineral or bone disorders. She denied any prescribed/over-counter medication and abstained from alcohol. Examination revealed marked cachexia (BMI 16.1 kg/m2). ECG revealed ST depression and T wave inversion.Investigations in...

A 51-year-old female presented with a 9 month history of symptoms suggestive of hypoglycaemia and associated episodes of unconsciousness, which were prevented by frequent food intake but with subsequent weight gain. She reported a history of lactose-induced anaphylaxis and the use of lactose-free subcutaneous prednisolone since sustaining a traumatic cardiac injury in 1987.Two supervised prolonged fasts demonstrated hypoglycaemia with elevated insulin le...

The glucagon stimulation test is commonly used to assess the hypothalamic–pituitary axis when the insulin stress test (IST) is contraindicated. The mechanism behind glucagon induced secretion of GH and cortisol is unclear. To determine whether these responses are dependent on symptoms during the glucagon test, a retrospective case note study of glucagon tests performed over 3 years in patients with pituitary disease was undertaken.Methods: Fifty-six...