Endocrine Abstracts

Pituitary patients with different aetiologies of hypopituitarism exhibit differing phenotypes despite optimal replacement therapy. We hypothesised that differential regulation of the isoenzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), which mediates the autocrine conversion of cortisone to cortisol in adipose tissues and liver may play a role.We prospectively studied 11β-HSD1 activity through analysis of 24 h urine cortisol/cortisone ...

Introduction: Alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis have been reported following GH replacement, with a decline in circulating T4 concentration the most consistent finding. However, the clinical significance of GH-induced alterations in circulating levels of thyroid hormone is unclear.Aim: To examine the relationship between changes in serum concentration of thyroid hormones and known biological markers of thyroid ho...

Introduction: TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is used as a sensitive marker for the detection of early recurrence or residual disease following treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, stimulated Tg, using TSH or thyroid hormone withdrawal, is either costly or cumbersome for patients.Aim: To compare the performance of basal T4 suppressed, with stimulated Tg measurement, in the follow up of patients treated for DTC.</...

Pituitary adenomas and phaeochromocytoma/paragangliomas (PHAEO/PGL) can very rarely occur in the same patient or in the same family. Together, they are not known to be part of any classical endocrine neoplasia syndromes. In some caes the pathogenetic mechanism may be secondary to a PHAEO secreting GHRH leading to somatotroph hyperplasia and clinical acromegaly. However, we suggest several other mechanisms which could lead to the development of pituitary and PHAEO/PGL together:...

Background: A founder mutated AIP allele, R304* was previously identified in several Irish familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) pedigrees from a small region within Mid Ulster, Northern Ireland, but the allele’s general population impact remains unknown.Aims: To estimate R304* prevalence in the general population and pituitary adenoma (PA) patients and to calculate the allele’s time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA).<p c...