Endocrine Abstracts

Heterophilic antibody interference in serum TSH immunoassays can result in misdiagnosis of patients with suspected thyroid disease. Rheumatoid factor (RhF) is an immunoglobulin with reactivity to the Fc portion of human IgG. Some RhF species also cross-react with animal immunoglobulins so have the potential to act as heterophile antibodies. As part of the Cambridge Supra-Regional Assay service for thyroid function testing five serum samples with strongly positive RhF and posit...

Beta-cell function of HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), who display lipodystrophy, may be impaired. An early defect in beta-cell function may be characterized by an increased secretion of 32–33 split proinsulin (SP) and intact proinsulin (IP).To address this issue the secretion pattern of SP and IP of 16 HIV-infected men with lipodystrophy (LIPO) and 15 HIV-infected men without lipodystrophy (NONLIPO) were studie...