Endocrine Abstracts

Insulin tolerance test (ITT) is considered the golden standard test to evaluate HPA axis in suspected hypopituitarism. Low dose (1 μg) ACTH1–24 short stimulation test (LDSST) and metyrapone are often used when ITT is contraindicated. The diagnostic reliability of LDSST is, however, controversial, as even this dose has been considered supramaximal, while very low ACTH doses have been suggested more reliable to assess the adrenal sensitivity. Thus, in...

Introduction: It has been reported that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), and this could affect the clinical expression of the disease. However only few studies addressed this issue and refer to American or North European patients. In these studies, only about one third of the patients showed a vitamin D replete state.Subjects and methods: In 207 consecutive pHPT patients (M/F=45/162, age (mean ±<sma...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is characterized by an increased frequency of glucose tolerance abnormalities associated with insulin-resistance. Few studies evaluated the relationship between insulin resistance and others cardiovascular risk factors in pHPT.Subjects and methods: In 255 consecutive pHPT patients (M/F=66/189, age (mean±S.D.): 59.9±13.7 years, PTH: 215.6±219.4 pg/ml, calcium: 11.2±1.2 mg/...

Introduction: Recent data suggest a reciprocal influence between bone and energy metabolism. Mediators have been identified as osteocalcin (OC), which stimulates insulin (IRI) secretion and activity and IRI as bone anabolic factor. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) stimulates bone turnover, induces osteoporosis and is associated with increased IRI resistance. A positive relationship between OC and IRI sensitivity has been found in PHPT, but no data exist on the relationship b...