Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: ‘At risk’ groups for vitamin D deficiency have long been identified, including the chronically ill. According to guidelines published by the European Society of Endocrinology (ESPE, 2002), the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP, 2008) and the Endocrine Society (ENDO, 2011), vitamin D levels should be measured in chronically ill or at risk patients. We aimed to test the current knowledge of these guidelines amongst consultants in a large tertiary hospi...

Background: Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are congenital, benign tumours consisting of disorganised neuronal cells within the hypothalamus. They usually present with precocious puberty, seizures, behavioural abnormalities, either in isolation or combined.Aims: To look at the endocrine outcomes of patients with HH.Methods: A retrospective casenote review of all patients diagnosed with HH over a 20-year period within a single endocrin...

Background: The level of 25OH vitamin D (25OHD) which separates deficiency from sufficiency is heavily deabted. With decreasing 25OHD levels, typical biochemical derangements set in, such as increasing parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and decreasing phosphate and calcium levels. In adults, serum concentrations of PTH reportedly start to rise when serum 25OHD levels drop below 30 μg/l. Such data are scarce in children....

Background: HbA1c is a marker for the risk of long-term complications of Diabetes. Our unit cares for 349 children and young people (CYP) from a population with a higher than average prevalence of low-income families, ethnic minority families, and high unemployment. Over the last 10 years there have been service improvements, increased resources and changes in practice.Aims: To review HbA1c outcomes achieved annually from 2003, compared with published na...

Background: Our practice is to commence newly diagnosed children and young people (CYP) with diabetes, over 5 years old, on multiple daily insulin (MDI), using fixed Insulin to Carbohydrate ratios (ICRs) with meals across the day. ICRs are subsequently adjusted according to blood glucose response, individualising insulin treatment. We know intensified insulin therapy includes use of varied ICRs, reflecting varying insulin sensitivity at different times of day. We do not know w...

Nineteen cases of insulinoma were treated in this centre between 2003 and 2012 (12 female, 7 male, 5 associated with MEN-1). Of the cohort, 14 had their primary investigation and management here. All presented with symptoms consistent with hypoglycaemia and had a supervised fast demonstrating serum glucose <2.2 mmol/l with inappropriately normal/elevated insulin.11 of 14 patients proceeded to surgery. Two elderly patients declined further investigati...