Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The Short Synachten Test (SST) is the gold standard test for assessing adrenal insufficiency, however these can be time and resource consuming. Improved cortisol assays (Scottish consensus) currently advise a cut-off of 430 nmol/l at 30 minutes . However, there is no clarity about the optimum baseline cortisol level and recommendations range varies from 300–500 nmol/l.The aim of this study was to establish a single baseline cortisol c...

This 52-year-old lady presented in 2001 at a GI clinic complaining of occasional abdominal cramps, which could be severe and prolonged. Her symptoms were not associated with diarrhoea or constipation. Weight loss of 4.5 kg over 4 months was noted. Coeliac disease was excluded and a diagnosis of severe irritable bowel was made.In January 2002 she returned to the clinic with further weight loss (total 8 kg), cyclical symptoms of diarrhoea lasting 3–5 ...

A 46-year-old male presented in 1981 with a 2 year history of profuse watery diarrhoea, three stone weight loss and fatigue. On examination he appeared gaunt with diffuse muscle weakness. Investigations revealed hypokalaemia (2.5 mmol/l; NR 3.5–4.5), achlorhydria and a raised vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (1500ng/L; NR 0–100). Abdominal CT showed a 5 cm pancreatic mass but with no focal liver pathology. A distal pancreatectomy was performed. Histology confi...