Endocrine Abstracts

IntroductionKallmann syndrome (isolated hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and anosmia), is caused by loss of KAL-1 function in the developing human olfactory system. Gene function is also conserved in eukaryotes, including nematodes, chick and rodents. However, the precise role of kal-1 in the developing nervous system is unclear. D.melanogaster an ideal model to study kal-1 function, as many molecular aspects of olfactory development are shared with mammal...

Controversy exists as to the role of adrenal venous sampling in the assessment of primary aldosteronism (PA). There is no consensus as to how best to define successful outcome post resection of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA). We performed a retrospective analysis of the outcome of patients following unilateral adrenalectomy without pre-operative venous sampling. The study included 14 patients (9 males; mean age 47 yrs (r: 38–59 yrs) with PA and CT identified u...

A 47 year-old woman was referred with hypercalcaemia. She was receiving lithium, haloperidol and olanzapine for a schizo-affective disorder. Five years previously she had been diagnosed with liver metastases and a biopsy confirmed a neuroendocrine tumour. She had been told that her life-expectancy was limited, and she was discharged. Her calcium was 2.7mmol/l three years ago. At presentation to her local hospital, her calcium was >6.0mmol/l. She was treated aggressively wi...