Endocrine Abstracts

With treatment of endocrine myopathies increased proximal muscle strength is generally attributed to increased bulk. However in hypothyroid myopathy individuals have been shown to increase strength despite reduction in bulk.We studied 25 hyperthyroid and 27 hypothyroid randomly selected patients, measuring body weight, quadriceps and deltoid force using strain gauge techniques or with a myometer. Cross sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps and Right de...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with insulin resistance and reduced pancreatic beta cell function. Approximately 40% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have impaired glucose tolerance. This observational study sought to show improvement in insulin resistance after parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.Methods: Insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell function was calculated before and 12 weeks...

Introduction: Evaluation and management of thirst and polyuric syndromes can be challenging in endocrine practice.Case report: A 24-year old lady presented with weight loss, thirst, polyuria, vomiting and abdominal pain. She had acromegaly treated by transsphenoidal surgery 5 years ago. Medications included hydrocortisone, thyroxine (T4), the oral contraceptive pill as well as bromocriptine for postoperative acromegaly. Examination revealed postural hyp...

Introduction and aims: The role of screening for thyroid disease in diabetes (DM) remains controversial. We assessed the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction on first screening in a population of patients with diabetes who previously had thyroid function tests (TFT) only on clinical suspicion.Methods: TFT and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) were measured in 236 consecutive patients with DM (mean age 59±13 years, type1 16%, type2 84%, female 48%)...

Objective: To determine the incidence of osteopaenia and osteoporosis in primary hyperparathyroidism.Methods: Retrospective review of 80 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism; Bone densitometry of the femoral neck, lumbar spine and distal ulna was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the time of diagnosis.Results: The median age at diagnosis was 68; The male: female ratio was 1:3; osteoporosis was present in 2...

Introduction: Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid characterised by an invasive fibrotic process.Case report: A 48-year old lady with newly diagnosed profound hypothyroidism was started on thyroxine and referred due to a rapidly enlarging goitre. Examination revealed a hard fixed goitre in an euthyroid patient. Thyroglobulin (titre 1: 10,000) and thyroid peroxidase (titre 1: 100,000) antibodies were strongly positiv...

Background and aims: Cardiovascular (CVS) disease accounts for the majority of morbidity and mortality in diabetes. We audited lipid management in a hospital diabetes clinic.Patients: CVS disease risk factors were assessed in 241 consecutive patients with diabetes (type1 15%, type2 85%, male 53%, female 47%, mean age 59±13 years, mean duration of diabetes 10±9 years). 86(36%) had symptomatic atherosclerotic vascular disease (secondary prev...

A 64 year old man presented with confusion and agitation following diarrhoea for 48 hours. He had a background history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, depression and had a normal sodium concentration of 135 mmol/L a year prior to admission. His medications included bendroflumethiazide and sertraline in addition to metformin, diclofenac sodium, aspirin, simvastatin, nifedipine and enalapril. On examination he was conscious but confused. He was afebrile with a blood pressure o...