Endocrine Abstracts

Continuation of GH at final height in hypopituitary adolescents with severe GH-deficiency results in accrual of bone mass over 12 months. We report body composition and BMD in 7 of these patients who discontinued GH but continued to have observations over 24 months. Five males and 2 females were included (17.4plus/minus0.3, years, meanplus/minusSE), in this Ethics Commitee approved study. All had severe GH-deficiency with multiple pituitary hormone deficits on appropriate repl...

Introduction Diabetes is a strong risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary artery calcium measurement (CAC) provides a non-invasive accurate assessment of the presence and severity of CHD, and thus the need for further cardiological investigations and risk-factor modifications.Methods We analysed data from CACS assessment on 3337 male subjects who had no cardiovascular symptoms, of whom 188 had diabetes. CACS was measured by an Electron Bea...

We have previously described a series of patients who presented with clinical and biochemical features diagnostic of phaeochromocytoma but in whom catecholamine excess proved to be secondary to undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We describe here a prospective study of 30 patients presenting to the sleep clinic with OSA from whom 24 hour urine collections were analysed for catecholamines before and after treatment with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP).<p...

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension. A recent study demonstrated elevated urinary catecholamine excretion in hypertensive males with OSA. However, we have recently observed the phenomenum whereby OSA can rarely induce catecholamine production of sufficient severity to mimic the clinical and biochemical presentation of phaeochromocytoma.<p clas...

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension. A recent study demonstrated elevated urinary catecholamine excretion in hypertensive males with OSA. However, we have recently observed the phenomenum whereby OSA can rarely induce catecholamine production of sufficient severity to mimic the clinical and biochemical presentation of phaeochromocytoma.<p clas...

Background: Leptin is a multi-functional hormone of which low levels are associated with immuno-deficiency. We and others have shown that leptin promotes secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) by monocytes (1) and activated lymphocytes (2). The leptin receptor (Ob-R) is expressed on neutrophils and leptin enhances oxidative species production by stimulated neutrophils.Aim: To access whether CD11b expression on human neutrophils is a di...

Sporadic somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), classically presenting with hyperglycaemia, cholelithiasis and steatorrhoea. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection; other aspects of management remain uncertain. We report 3 cases. Case 1: A 55 year-old female presented with abdominal discomfort and steatorrhoea. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a 9 cm pancreatic mass. Biopsy suggested a NET. Somatostatin (SMS) was 160 pmol/l (normal 0-150)...

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the surgical management of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas which lie in close proximity to or involve the great vessels including the aorta and vena cava.Design: Retrospective case-series. Patients: five subjects undergoing surgical excision of either a phaeochromocytoma or paraganglioma involving the great vessels seen at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, UK (2004–2013).Meas...