Endocrine Abstracts

In this world, there are no prizes for coming second: the only way to flourish in any field is through excellence, and that includes the leadership of groups and organisations. Leadership, however, is a lazily understood concept. We know about charismatic leaders, with vision and ability to think laterally, who save nations in a state of crisis. Yet these same characteristics are often also needed by those who lead science-based organisations. Furthermore even charismatic lead...

BACKGROUND: An audit of facilities and medical and surgical care based on the 1997 Royal College of Physicians and Society for Endocrinology guidelines for the management of pituitary tumours was carried out in the South West in 2001. We present the results for patients referred to one specialist pituitary surgeon in Plymouth.METHODS: 1. A questionnaire was sent to each endocrinology department covering staff resources, facilities for investigations and the process of care...

Myelinolysis is a recognised complication following over-rapid correction of hyponatraemia. However, the risk of myelinolysis following the treatment of Addisonian crisis is rarely reported. We report 2 cases of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) both associated with severe hyponatraemia. In the first case, myelinolysis developed following treatment with corticosteroids and isotonic saline in line with current recommendations. In the second case, deliberately cautious correct...

This presentation will describe the case of a 60-year-old woman who,after being hypothyroid for 12 years, developed severe thyroid associated opthalmopathy (TAO) and was found to be hyperthyroid. She had strongly positive anti-TSH receptor antibodies. She developed right optic nerve compression unresponsive to methylprednisolone and requiring orbital decompression at Moorfields Hospital in November 2000. She has subsequently required immunosuppressive therapy for severe TAO af...

Macroprolactin(mPRL)is a high molecular weight form of prolactin(PRL)most commonly due to formation of a complex with IgG.The PRL in mPRL remains reactive in immunoassays for PRL and the complex has a longer plasma half life than monomeric PRL.mPRL is a common cause of hyperprolactinaemia but its origin is not known and the complex has minimal bioactivity in vivo.The clinical significance of hyperprolactinaemia due to mPRL is that it can cause diagnostic confusion and lead to ...