Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome results from increased or aberrant expression of ACTH, CHR, or neuroendocrine receptors that leads to uncontrolled hypersecretion of cortisol. The most common cause is ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Alternatively, the glucocorticoid excess may be due to adrenal neoplasia or to ectopic ACTH – secreting tumors. There are rare reports of patients with a meningioma secreting CRH presenting paraneoplasic Cushing’s syndrome.<p ...

Introduction: Central and Peripheral Diabetes Insipidus are both rare conditions. Combined they may result in serious hypernatremia and water deficit that may pose a therapeutic challenge.Case report: MHBCR, a caucasian female aged 52, was admitted to the Endocrine Department because of serious hypernatremia. A previous diagnosis of pituitary failure and central diabetes insipidus was established 4 years before, after pituitary surgery for a non-secretin...

Introduction: Ectopic thyroid is a rare entity, resulting from developmental defects at early stages of thyroid embriogenesis. It’s prevalence is 1/100 000–300 000 in general population and 1/4000–8000 in patients with thyroid disease. This condition is more common in females, in Asians and may occur at any age, although it’s most common at younger ages. The most frequent location of ectopic thyroid tissue is at the base of the tongue. In 70–75% of cas...

Introduction: MEN1 is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, with a prevalence of 2–20/100 000 in the general population. It is characterized by tumors envolving the parathyroid glands, the endocrine pancreas and the pituitary. Other tumors are more rarely associated: adrenal adenomas, carcinoid tumors, pheocromocytomas, angiofibromas, lipomas, collagenomas and meningiomas. The presence of two or more of MEN1 associated tumors is diagnostic of the syndrome.<p class...

Graves’ disease is characterized by the occurrence of antibodies against thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor that stimulate the gland to produce T4 and T3. It can be accompanied by an infiltrative orbitopathy and oftalmopathy. Another seldom- regognized feature of this disease is thymic hyperplasia.The authors report the case of a 22-year-old woman with Graves’ disease (TSH receptor antibodies 178 U/l) with exuberant oftalmopathy and an ...

Introduction: Primary hypoparathyroidism (PH) is a rare condition. After surgery and chronic alcoholism, an autoimmune disease is the most common etiology and must specifically be considered in the context of a patient with other autoimmune endocrine diseases.Case report: MASD a male caucasian patient aged 31, was admitted to the emergency department because of perioral and hand paresthesias, and carpal spasm, in the context of a generalized anxiety reac...

Introduction: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition with an estimated prevalence of about 2%, 5–10 times more frequent in females. A multifactorial nature is assumed, with genetic contribution accounting for up to 80% of the variability. Relevant genes includegeneral autoimmune risk loci, such as the HLA region, CTLA-4, PTPN22 and CD40, as well as thyroid-specific loci (thyroglobulin and TSH receptor genes). We report a particular case of Graves’ d...

Introduction: Several studies suggest DHEA and DHEAS (DHEA(S)) are related to memory enhancement and a better performance under stress. An anti-cortisol action may contribute to those relations. We looked for a new level of evidence, by studying DHEA(S) and cortisol relations to working memory (WM) and distraction in humans also at the electrophysiological level.Subjects and methods: Twenty-eight healthy female volunteers (18–26 years old) were pres...

Introduction: Several studies reported DHEA relations to memory and cognition improvement. An anti-cortisol action may contribute to those relations. The effect of working memory (WM) on DHEA levels is unknown. We studied DHEA and cortisol reactivity in humans after a WM stimulus with simultaneous distraction.Subjects and methods: Twenty eight healthy female volunteers (18–26 years old) were presented a well-established auditory-visual distraction t...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare form of thyroid cancer, making up about 3–5% of all cases. It is characterized by the synthesis and secretion of calcitonin (Ct). Measurement of Ct has low specificity but is a highly sensitive method for the detection of MTC. MTC with normal or only slightly elevated Ct is a rare occurrence and there are few such reports in the literature.Case report: A 61-year-old male patient was referred ...