Endocrine Abstracts

Renal resistance to vasopressin has been demonstrated in type 1 diabetes, and in type 2 diabetes with nephropathy. However, renal response to vasopressin in type 2 diabetes without nephropathy, has not been studied.We studied 10 subjects with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (PCDS, HbA1c > 9 %), 10 subjects with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (WCDS, HbA1c < 7 %), and 10 matched non-diabetic control subjects (NDCS), during a euglycaemic 8-hour wat...

Hyponatraemia is a well-recognised neurosurgical complication, but the incidence and complications are unknown.Objective : We aimed to define the incidence, pathophysiology and effects of significant hyponatraemia following neurosurgical admissions.Methods: All neurosurgical patients with significant hyponatraemia (plasma sodium <130 millimol per litre) between January 2002 and September 2003 were identified from computerised la...

The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is the gold standard for assessing growth hormone (GH) and cortisol production in pituitary disease, However it is potentially hazardous, requires medical supervision and adequate hypoglycemia may not be achieved. We retrospectively examined the records of 185 consecutive patients aged 14-76 years with pituitary disease who underwent the ITT over 18 months. Testing was performed in the endocrine day ward by an experienced endocrine nurse. Absol...

Corticosteroid therapy is associated with potentially serious side effects, but there is no information available regarding glucocorticoid requirements in adult hypopituitary patients with partial adreno-corticotrophin hormone (ACTH) deficiency.10 male adult hypopituitary patients with partial ACTH deficiency, baseline plasma cortisol > 200 nanomole/ litre but a peak stimulated cortisol < 550 nanomole/ litre, were randomised to a cross-over protoco...

Single gene defects causing severe insulin resistance have been elucidated either by directed screening of candidate genes (INSR, AKT2, PPARG) or by detailed linkage mapping in large pedigrees (BSCL2, AGPAT2, LMNA), and study of patients harbouring these known defects continues to yield important insights into insulin’s action in health and disease. However a large proportion of the genetic defects leading to severe insulin resistance in slim subjects remains undiscovered...