Endocrine Abstracts

Macroprolactinaemia, a common phenomenon variably expressed in different assays, influences interpretation of prolactin results, as recognised since 1978. The degree of macroprolactinaemia manifest over time is less well described. We examined how macroprolactin status (based on polyethylene glycol(PEG) precipitation prolactin % recovery) varied over serial measurements in hyperprolactinaemic individuals.Methods: All serum total prolacti...

Vitamin D is a pleotropic hormone with important actions in a wide variety of cell types. Whilst its role in the endocrine control of calcium metabolism via the active circulating metabolite 1,25- dihydroxy cholecalciferol is widely appreciated, other actions in a range of cells and tissues depend on activation of circulating 25-hydroxy vitamin D by intracrine mechanisms and paracrine actions which may be locally controlled. Of particular interest are the roles of vitamin D pe...

Objectives: To evaluate the use of Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) measured on day 2 of spontaneous menstrual cycles in the prediction of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: IVF unit within a department of reproductive medicine and surgery.Patients: Women undergoing their first cycle of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF/ICSI.<p class="...

A 47-year-old female presented with facial swelling, easy bruising, and concern regarding possible Cushing’s syndrome. She had developed secondary amenorrhoea 3 years previously; biochemistry suggested hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, felt to be hypothalamic secondary to low BMI and intense exercise. She was normotensive, and BMI was 17.4. There was no evidence of abdominal striae, proximal myopathy or hirsutism, but her face appeared rounder and plethoric compared with a ...

Adrenal carcinomas are rare with a poor prognosis, highlighting the importance of prompt investigation of adrenal incidentalomas. We report a challenging case of an adrenocortical carcinoma secreting steroids in a pattern characteristic of 21-hydroxylase deficiency, which also proved to be a histopathological enigma. A 36-year-old woman underwent investigation for right-sided loin pain. A CT showed an avidly heterogeneously enhancing circumscribed left adrenal mass measuring 6...

Sclerotic bone lesions are a rare cause of hypocalcaemia. Calcium and vitamin D malabsorption are recognised complications of gastric bypass surgery. We describe the case of a 45 year-old woman with severe persistent symptomatic hypocalcaemia secondary to metastatic breast cancer, complicated by a previous Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and the development of hypoparathyroidism. Her corrected calcium levels fell repeatedly and precipitously despite treatment with up to 8g/day oral ...