Endocrine Abstracts

Phaeochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare tumours derived from the sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia. They characteristically secrete catecholamines (noradrenaline/adrenaline/dopamine), which are metabolised to the metanephrines (normetadrenaline/metadrenaline/3-MT respectively). These tumour markers can be detected in acidified 24-h urine collections as first-line investigative tests. Plasma 3-MT has been characterised as a biomarker of metastatic PG...

Context: Hydrocortisone day curves (HCDC) are used to monitor hydrocortisone replacement by obtaining serum samples to measure cortisol levels throughout the day. Salivary measurement of free cortisol offers a non-invasive alternative to serum measurements.Objective: To validate salivary cortisol measurement as an alternative method to assess the adequacy of hydrocortisone replacement in patients with hypoadrenalism.Setting, patien...