Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Thyroid ultrasound (US) is not routinely used in the evaluation of hyperthyroidism, although studies show that clinical exam may miss lesions up to 2 cm in diameter. We reviewed our department’s practice of thyroid US to consider (1) accuracy of our clinical diagnosis and (2) whether this could improve management. Our hospital has no facility for isotope scanning.Methods: Seventy-three cases (13 male, 60 female) identified from thyroid U...

Introduction: Hypothyroidism remains a global problem with prevalence of 1–2% in iodine replete areas of the world. Primary or Autoimmune Hypothyroidism remains the most common type of hypothyroidism worldwide. Central (secondary) hypothyroidism (CH) because of pituitary/hypothalamic disorders is a rare cause of hypothyroidism with reported prevalence of 1:20.000 to 1:80.000 in the general population1. This makes CH about 1000 fold rarer than primary hypothyro...

Background and aims: Thiazolidinediones have been extensively used as second line agents in the management of type 2 diabetes. A small increased incidence of ischaemic heart disease was suggested by a meta-analysis of studies using Rosiglitazone. Similar meta-analysis of Pioglitazone did not show adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Our aim was to objectively evaluate the changes in glycaemic and lipid control in a controlled conversion from Rosiglitazone to Pioglitazone.<p cl...

Background: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia (HH) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is rare. Patients typically present with post-prandial hypoglycaemia >1 year after surgery and once weight loss has plateaued. Despite multiple treatment options, the management of these patients remains challenging.Clinical case: A 31-year-old female was referred for bariatric surgery with a BMI of 41.4 kg/m2. In the year preceding the r...

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterised by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and papilloedema, diagnosed primarily in obese women of reproductive age, with the incidence rising with the global epidemic of obesity. Weight-loss lowers ICP and treats IIH. No mechanism explains the link between obesity and raised ICP. We hypothesise that adipose tissue from IIH patients has a metabolically distinct profile that contributes to raised ICP. Our previous data demo...

Background: GH deficiency is associated with reduction in IQ and neural volumes (globus pallidum and thalamus). Significant relationships between IGF1, IGFBP3 and brain volumes have also been described in children born extremely preterm (total brain volume and cerebellum). No published studies report the relationship between markers of GH status and brain volumes in healthy children.Methods: Cognitive assessment, MRI brain and measurement of IGF1 and IGF...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10% of women and is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. Androgen excess is an important driver of metabolic risk in PCOS. In adipose tissue from women with PCOS, increased activation of androstenedione (A4) to testosterone (T) by the enzyme AKR1C3 results in systemic lipotoxicity. Recent in-vitro studies also demonstrated that T and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) activate the androgen recep...