Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Children with undiagnosed coeliac disease are at risk of low bone mineral density (BMD), but whether this translates to fracture predisposition is unclear. In adults with coeliac disease anti-osteoprotegerin (anti-OPG) antibodies have been identified. OPG inhibits RANK ligand activation of osteoclastic bone resorption, and thus anti-OPG antibodies promote bone loss. We report a case of osteoporosis with elevated anti-OPG antibodies in a child with coeliac disease.<...

Abiraterone acetate is a potent, selective inhibitor of CYP17, a key enzyme that catalyses the conversion of pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone to androstenedione. Inhibition of this enzyme causes suppression of the synthesis of both androgens and oestrogens. Hence treatment with abiraterone acetate could impact on the development and progression of hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancers.In a phase I/II1,2 st...