Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have adversely affected population mental health. Periods of psychological distress can induce menstrual dysfunction. We previously demonstrated a significant disruption in women’s reproductive health during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The present study investigates longer term reproductive and mental health disturbances.Materials and Methods: An online surv...

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected population mental health. In April 2021 we conducted an observational study which demonstrated disruption in women’s reproductive and mental health during the first year of the pandemic. Our objective therefore was to perform follow up studies in this cohort of women at 6-monthly intervals, to assess the longer term enduring impact of the pandemic on reproductive and mental health.Materials/Me...

Background: RAI is used as definitive treatment for hyperthyroidism, but administered activities vary between institutions. We used a fixed activity of RAI therapy for Grave’s disease (GD) and toxic multinodular goitre (TMNG), and calculated activity for toxic adenoma (TA). We reviewed treatment outcomes at one year.Methods: Thyroid function tests 1 year post RAI were reviewed retrospectively to asess outcome for 79 hyperthyroid patients divided int...

The thyroid telephone clinic (TTC) was established to facilitate rapid decision making on timing of introducion of anti-thyroidals or L-thyroxine replacement therapy post RAI so avoiding unnecessary outpatient appointments or leaving patients with untreated hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The TTC is also used to monitor TFTs during pregnancy and to dose-titrate treatment of unstable hypo- or hyperthyroid patients. This service is provided to patients who speak English fluen...

Background: Radioiodine (RAI) is widely used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Most patients respond to RAI therapy with a normalization of TFTs and improvement in clinical symptoms within 4–8 weeks. Hypothyroidism may occur from 4 weeks on, with 40% of patients being hypothyroid by 8 weeks and >80% by 16 weeks. American thyroid association guidelines recommend testing for free T4, total T3, and TSH within the first 1–2 months after RAI. Biochemical monitorin...

There is an increase in cardiovascular risk factors in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) compared with BMI matched controls. Almost all women with PCOS are insulin resistant and increased cardiovascular risk is commonly attributed to insulin resistance (IR). However, it is unclear if cardiovascular risk differs in women with PCOS compared to equally insulin resistant women. We performed a case–control study (n=56 pairs) of women with PCOS (NIH criteria) compared t...

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Insulin resistance (IR) is believed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of both PCOS and cardiovascular disease and thus provides a plausible link between these two conditions. An exaggerated post-prandial triglyceride (TG) response is thought to be one of the mechanisms through which IR is associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare fast...

Introduction: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher prevalence of obesity and weight gain. Obesity negatively impacts the fertility, mental wellbeing and long term health of women with PCOS. The 2023 international guidelines for the management of PCOS suggest that GLP1 receptor agonists could be considered, but highlight a lack of evidence for medical obesity treatment in women with PCOS. Previous studies showed that interventions which red...

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is greatly increased in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), patients typically have apparently healthy lipid profiles. Simple measurement of plasma lipids however does not provide information regarding lipoprotein particle size which in the nondiabetic population is independently predictive of CVD. Plasma lipids and lipoprotein subclasses (using polyacrylamide gel-tube electrophoresis) were studied in reproductive age women with T1DM and comp...

We conducted a retrospective study examining the prevalence of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in a diabetic population attending a tertiary referral centre and APRI and FIB4 scores were also calculated where possible. APRI and FIB4 scores can be used to estimate degree of liver fibrosis. APRI score >1 has 76% sensitivity, 72% specificity for predicting cirrhosis. APRI score >0.7 has 77% sensitivity, 72% specificity for predicting significant fibrosis. A FIB4 scor...