Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Since the DCCT demonstrated that improved glycaemic control reduced complications the goal of diabetes management has been to maintain HbA1c as close to normal as possible. Recent changes by the laboratory to our HbA1c assay, combined with the debate about deanonymised publication of clinic’s HbA1c results, creating the potential for ‘league tables’, focussed our attention on the variation between HbA1c assays.Clinical data: Ou...

Background: Patients attending our A+E department with hypoglycaemia have a number of samples collected including metabolic investigations, growth hormone (GH) and cortisol. Most of these children have an intercurrent illness. There is a paucity of published data examining how cortisol and GH respond to ‘physiological hypoglycaemia’.Aims: To assess if peak levels of GH and cortisol correlate with the degree of hypoglycaemia and to evaluate how ...

Introduction: Due to improved cancer survival rates, a rising number of CNS cancer survivors face late effects of therapy, such as hormone deficiencies. During adolesecence and young adulthood, specialised transition services are needed to cater for young peoples complex health needs and general needs, such as achieving independence. This study therefore audited a Teenage & Young Adult (TYA) neuro-oncology late effects clinic to identify areas of good practice and areas fo...

Growth hormone treatment (GHT) is used to improve height, and potentially quality of life (QOL), in children with abnormal growth patterns. Previous QOL research suggests children with acquired growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) benefit more from GHT than those treated for other conditions.The aim was to determine child and parent reported QOL change over 1 year depending on GHT and diagnosis.One hundred and twenty-two children (mean...

Background: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2002) suggests that measurement of quality of life (QOL) is necessary to assess the efficacy of GH treatment (GHT). A pilot study (Sheppard 2006) showed a greater improvement in QOL over the first 6 months of GHT for patients with acquired GH deficiency (AGHD) compared with idiopathic GH deficiency (IGHD).Method: In view of this, a longitudinal research study was set up to measure changes ...