Endocrine Abstracts

Hirsutism and hair loss are common and distressing problems for patients with PCOS. Both are associated with significant psychological impact, including symptoms of depression and reduced quality of life. Treatment options for hirsutism include non-pharmacological approaches (lifestyle change, cosmetic treatments, direct hair removal methods) and pharmacotherapy. Lifestyle change resulting in weight loss can result in modest improvements in Ferriman-Gallwey scores in addition ...

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest endocrine disorder in young women, affecting up to 10% of the premenopausal population. In addition to its reproductive sequelae, PCOS is now established as a metabolic disorder, characterised by defects in insulin secretion and action. These disturbances, along with comorbidities such as obesity and dyslipidaemia, may predispose to an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease in later life. Our studies confirm a higher prevale...

Endocrinologists are faced with three main issues when managing a woman with a prolactinoma contemplating pregnancy: restoration of fertility, consideration of the effects of dopamine agonists on the developing foetus, and the effects of the high oestrogen environment of pregnancy on prolactinoma expansion. Untreated hyperprolactinaemia leads to anovulatory menstrual cycles with resultant amenorrhoea and infertility in most patients. Therefore, treatment is usually required in...

This presentation will review clinical advances in Endocrinology over the last year, highlighting studies selected on the basis of their impact on clinical care....

Background: Malignant paragangliomas are rare. Predictors of malignant potential include high levels of normetadrenaline and/or dopamine, and the presence of a germline mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase B gene (SDHB). Prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited, with only short-term responses observed after 131I-MIBG therapy or chemotherapy.Aim: To report response to the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib.<p cl...

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare pulmonary pathology which encompasses a spectrum of findings ranging from simple neuroendocrine cell proliferation to discrete nodules, and is strongly associated with carcinoid tumours. Patients, typically female, are often asymptomatic, but may present with overt pulmonary symptoms, such a dyspnoea, cough or pleuritic chest pain; however, even in their absence, a degree of obstructive or mixed o...

Due to the increased availability and use of radiology, endocrinologists are referred patients with incidentally discovered, clinically silent adrenal masses with increased frequency. Controversies persist regarding their investigation and management. We present two cases focusing in particular on the role of radiology in the management algorithm.A 43-year-old male underwent a CT urogram, which revealed an incidental 3×3×2 cm right adrenal mass...

A 29 year old gentleman was referred for investigation of subfertility and hypogonadism. He gave a history of normal erections and libido but had never shaved in his life. Though he denied anosmia, his maternal uncle had a poor sense of smell and his great uncle had needed to adopt children. He was markedly undermasculinised with micropenis and an empty scrotal sac. Neurological assessment showed subtle features of bimanual synkinesis (mirror movements), suggesting X-linked Ka...

Introduction and aims: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at significantly increased risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; prevalence 9–35%) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM; prevalence 2–10%), hence screening for these complications is recommended. The American Androgen Excess Society (AAES) recommends a biannual oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in all women with PCOS but this is costly and inconvenient. Alternative strategies which minimise th...

Background: Insulin resistance is a hallmark of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Insulin sensitisers, most notably metformin, are thus used to treat the condition, but may be accompanied by gastrointestinal side-effects. The novel isomeric insulin sensitising agents D-chiro-inositol (DCI) and Myo-inositol (MI) improve insulin resistance by acting at the peripheral and ovarian level, respectively, whilst largely being devoid of adverse effects.<p class="...