Endocrine Abstracts

Hyponatremia can unmask hypopituitarism and secondary adrenal insufficiency due to potent non-osmotic stimulation of vasopressin release under stressful conditions. Patients and methods: In a retrospective study 25 patients (13f/12m, age 58.9±18.6 years) with hyponatremia (119.7±10.5 mmol/l) were identified among 260 in-patients treated for hypopituitarism in our department over a decade. Results: Hyponatremia was recorded in 9.6% of our patients. In 84% it was the k...

Introduction: Both GH deficiency (GHD) and male hypogonadism are thought to be associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which is at least partly attributed to higher Insulin resistance. Potential reversibility of increased risk factors after gonadal replacement was assessed in this study, by comparing replaced and unreplaced hypogonadal men with GHD.Subjects and methods: Seventy-seven hypogonadal adult male patients with GHD ha...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a chronic disorder characterized of profound reduction in body weight and amenorrhoea. Despite emaciation and avoidance of cholesterol-rich food, hypercholesterolaemia is a common feature. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in lipid metabolism with weight gain in 17 severe AN patients aged 23.8±1.6 years (DSM-IV criteria). They were compared with age-matched cohorts of 11 healthy controls (22.5±3.9 years) before and after wei...

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) impairs bone mass and strength. Androgen deficient men exhibit impaired bone mass, but the extent to which testosterone replacement can prevent this remains disputable. The aim of this study was to assess whether androgen deficiency presents an additional risk factor for bone health in male patients with GHD and whether this is correctable by testosterone substitution.A group of 81 male patients with GHD, not receiving GH ...

Somatuline Autogel® 120 mg (SATG, Ipsen, Sweeden) is a high dose sustained release aqueous gel formulation, supplied in a prefiled syringe and given by deep subcutaneous injection. The aim of this cross-sectional hospital based study, approved by the local ethical committee, was to investigate efficacy and tolerability of SATG given every 4 weeks in patients with active acromegaly.Twenty patients (9f, 11m) aged 42.9±17.8 (range 17&#1...

Spontaneous subarahnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a recently identified risk factor for hipopituitarism, especially growth hormone (GH) and corticotroph deficiencies. The aim of this study is to perform the initial screening procedure to identify the patients with increased risk of neuroendocrine dysfunction after SAH in the chronic phase and to identify the possible predictor(s) for neuroendocrine dysfunction. Ninety-one patients (30 males, 61 females), age between 19 and 69 years ...

Introduction: Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays key roles in thyroid pathology. In patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), Se supplementation might reduce antibody levels and may provide additional beneficial effects, such as on cognition.Aim: To evaluate cognitive function (cognitive decline) in patients on long-term levothyroxine replacement for primary hypothyroidism with and without selenium supplementation.Design: ...

40-year-old female patient presented with acromegaly in 2008 (GH 61 (g/L, IGF-1 774 ng/ml PRL 1500 mU/L). Macro-adenoma invading the right cavernous sinus was found on MRI and she underwent two pituitary surgeries revealing sparsely granulated GH adenoma with scattered PRL cells, low Ki 67 and negative p53 immuno-staining. Her second cousin was treated for macro prolactinoma. Both patients tested negative for germline mutations in the AIP and menin genes. Treatment with somato...

Introduction: Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by a state of chronic fatigue that persists for more than 6 months and has no clear cause.Case report: A 38-year-old male was referred to our Clinic due to chronic fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, substantial impairment in concentration, headaches and postexertional malaise lasting from 6 to 9 months for 9 years. As a mechanical engineer he was working in shifts 12 h day/24 h break/12 h night/72 h break...

Background: Increased life expectancy and wider availability of neuroimaging lead to increase in diagnosis of acromegaly in elderly patients, after the age of 70. Delay in diagnosis is attributable to milder symptomatology, higher prevalence of comorbidities and symptoms overlapping with normal aging process.Objective: To investigate clinical characteristics, presenting symptoms, comorbidities and treatment modalities of acromegaly in patients diagnosed ...