Endocrine Abstracts

Macroprolactin, a circulating complex of monomeric prolactin together with an autoantibody, is commonly encountered in the course of endocrine investigations. It is generally agreed macroprolactin exhibits reduced bioactivity in vivo since individuals who harbour the complex do not demonstrate the classic clinical signs or symptoms characteristic of true hyperprolactinaemia. The aim of this study was to compare the relative potency of purified preparations of macroprolactin to...

Where screening for macroprolactin takes place, laboratories routinely rely on treatment of sera with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to distinguish macroprolactinaemia from true hyperprolactinaemia. However, PEG is incompatible with a number of common immunoassay platforms. The aim of this study was to assess the specificity and clinical utility of ultrafiltration as an alternative procedure for removal of bio-inactive prolactin IgG complexes such as macroprolactin from serum prior...

Macroprolactin has reduced bioactivity and accumulates in the sera of some subjects, resulting in apparent hyperprolactinaemia. Development of the polyethyleneglycol (PEG) precipitation technique has enabled large-scale screening for macroprolactin in hyperprolactinaemic subjects. We have reviewed the experience of routine screening for macroprolactin using PEG precipitation over a 54-month period in a single centre.Plasma levels of prolactin exceeded 50...

Macroprolactin is a bio-inactive molecule which cross-reacts in prolactin immune-assays. ‘Macroprolactinaemia’ describes hyperprolactinaemia which is entirely explained by the presence of macroprolactin. Failure to recognize macroprolactinaemia is associated with inappropriate investigation and unnecessary treatment. While screening for macroprolactinaemia is regularly undertaken in the UK and Ireland and to a lesser extent in continental European and Japan, this is ...

The 19th century saw the emergence of an extraordinarily gifted group of Dublin doctors who enjoy eponymous recognition. Immediately on graduating Robert Graves’ travelled for over 2 years to many of the foremost medical centres in Europe. On his return he introduced formal bedside teaching and daily lectures which has become the model for clinical training in these islands. Graves’ main other interest was the treatment of febrile illness recognizing the importance o...

The 19th century saw the emergence of an extraordinarily gifted group of Dublin doctors who enjoy eponymous recognition. Immediately on graduating Robert Graves’ travelled for over 2 years to many of the foremost medical centres in Europe. On his return he introduced formal bedside teaching and daily lectures which has become the model for clinical training in these islands. Graves’ main other interest was the treatment of febrile illness recognizing the importance o...

Acromegaly is a condition resulting from the action of excess growth hormone. We report the first case of acromegaly occurring in an individual as a result of growth hormone replacement therapy.Features of acromegaly developed in a forty-year old gentleman who was commenced on growth hormone replacement in 1993 following resection of a craniopharyngioma. Prior to commencing therapy, peak growth hormone response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia was less ...

The capacity of the adrenal to produce steroids is controlled in part through the transcriptional regulation of steroid enzymes. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), an orphan nuclear receptor is thought to be central to the transcriptional regulation of all steroid hydroxylase enzymes. Recently co-regulatory proteins have been implicated in the modulation of nuclear receptor transcriptional activity. We hypothesised that classic and novel secretogogues, including forskolin, angiote...

Since the thyroid is diffusely active in Graves' disease (GD) but exhibits focal activity in toxic nodular goitre (TNG), we tested the hypothesis that hypothyroidism will occur more frequently following radioactive iodine treatment (RAI), in patients with GD compared to those with TNG. To do this we reviewed the outcome of treatment in 86 patients, age 49.7 plus/minus 1.5 years (mean plus/minus SEM), with GD, and 77 patients, age 62.7 plus/minus 1.3 years, with TNG, followed o...

Raised body mass index (BMI) is seen in 95% of PCOS patients, which is characterised by hyperandrogenaemia, both clinically and biochemically. Weight loss, using calorie restricted diets, have previously been successful in improving androgen profiles and also restoring fertility in obese PCOS patients. A CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, rimonabant is effective in achieving weight loss in subjects with a BMI >27 kg/m.This study aimed to...