Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cortisol autonomy may be frequently demonstrated in patients with adrenal incidentaloma and this has been associated to increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, only few data are available on CV events and related mortality in such patients. Aims of the study were: 1) to stratify CV events and mortality by the degree of cortisol secretion; 2) to evaluate the effect of adrenalectomy on CV events and mortality.Methods and Design: Data of ...

Aim: Osteoporosis is common in postmenopausal women and in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). PHPT is more prevalent in postmenopausal women. Aim of the present study was to investigate possible predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with PHPT.Methods: 166 consecutive women with PHPT [age: 59.5±13.5 years; Asymptomatic/Symptomatic: 84/82; premenopausal/postmenopausal: 31/135; BMI: 25.6±4.8 kg/m2; PTH: 234.2±287.3 pg/...

BackgroundThe management of post-operative recurrences of ACC remains controversial, although the current guidelines recommend a surgical approach whenever feasible with radical intent.AimThe aim of our study was to evaluate retrospectively the management of recurrences in patients with ACC. We collected data of 106 patients with ACC followed at the San Luigi Hospital for the management of recurrence. Median ...

Background and objective: Optimization of glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency (AI) is crucial to avoid consequences of under- or overtreatment. Dosing of GC replacement is mainly based on clinical grounds; however, the impact of patient’s characteristics on daily GC requirement is poorly evaluated. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of sex (M/F) and BMI on dosing GC in patients with AI of different etiology....

The existing follow-up studies on patients with incidentally discovered adrenal adenoma (AA) focused almost exclusively on repeat imaging and endocrine work-up on a short period.Of consecutive 152 patients with AA referred to our center from 1989 to 2003, we have assessed the risk of developing metabolic disorders and vascular complications in the 74 patients who did not underwent surgery (51 women and 23 men, median age 57, range 25–74 years) durin...

Background and objectives: The role of adjuvant mitotane therapy after radical surgery for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is still debated. The aim of our study is to assess the effects of adjuvant mitotane on recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in non-metastatic ACC patients and to evaluate prognostic factors in adjuvant setting.Methods: Retrospective data were collected from 152 patients affected by ACC (stage I-III) referred to ou...

Background: Adrenal incidentalomas are found in 3–7% of radiological series and many of them are adrenal adenomas. Autonomous cortisol secretion without clinical signs of overt hypercortisolism is a common finding in these patients. Studies reported metabolic derangement and increased cardiovascular risk associated with this state of subtle cortisol excess, however scanty data are available on the natural history of this condition.Aim: To assess the...

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder characterized by significantly low body weight and fear of gaining weight. Amenorrhea is a very frequent feature in AN and it could persist after normalization of BMI. A well-represented fat mass and an adequate body composition (BC) are necessary for resumption of periods. Patients affected by AN, although in the remission phase, fear of becoming fat and refuse to gain weight. In our study we evaluated the effect of a normocal...

Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is a rare and heterogeneous disease due to defects of GnRH secretion or action. IHH could be associated or not with anosmia respectively identifying the Kallmann’s syndrome (KS) or the normosmic IHH (nIHH). So far numerous causative genetic defects have been described, but very recent molecular genetic studies and animal models have opened novel perspectives. We are studying a series of 16 KS (14M,2F) and 18 nIHH (14M,4F). Al...

Background and objectives: Metyrapone has been approved for the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome from all causes, but only few retrospective clinical studies are available. The aim of our study was the prospective assessment of metyrapone as pre-operative treatment.Methods: Before adrenalectomy, 7 patients with ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome due to adrenal adenoma were prospectively treated with metyrapone for 3 months, with e...