Endocrine Abstracts

Macroprolactinaemia is defined as hyperprolactinaemia with a predominance of macroprolactin. It is present in approx 15–36% of cases of hyperprolactinaemia. Controversy exists as to the clinical relevance of macroprolactinaemia with a number of short-term studies demonstrating fewer classical symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia. The long-term prognosis is unknown.We have previously reported the findings after 5 years follow-up of a cohort of 55 patients...

Primary hyperaldosteronism secondary to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH) bears striking similarities pathophysiologically to essential hypertension. During stimulation studies to elucidate possible aberrant aldosterone responses in BAH we measured the aldosterone response to 250mcg iv synacthen after 30 and 60 minutes in 7 patients with BAH and in 20 healthy controls. Patients had diuretics withheld for at least 4 weeks and betablockers and calcium channel blockers withheld...

A 59 year old man was admitted with epistaxis. Blood pressure on admission was 213/110 mmHg. Past medical history included hypertension (3 years) and a cerebrovascular accident 5 years previously. Drug therapy included an ACE inhibitor, beta-blocker and thiazide diuretic. He denied thirst, polyuria or weight loss. He was an ex-smoker. On examination he was not Cushingoid. There were no diabetic complications.On block analysis potassium was 2.2mmol/l and ...

It is well established that external pituitary irradiation (EPI) effectively reduces serum growth hormone levels in acromegaly. However the effect of EPI in normalising serum insulin like growth factor-1 levels (IGF-1) remains disputed. We studied 60 patients between 1964 and 2004 who received EPI for acromegaly: 22 women, 38 men; mean age at diagnosis 38.5 years (range 14-68). Pituitary surgery was carried out in 50/60 patients; in 47 patients EPI was given after their last s...