Endocrine Abstracts

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) is a condition of widespread inflammation which mainly affects large muscles manifesting as muscle pain, stiffness and weakness, usually associated with elevated circulating inflammatory markers. Typically PMR responds briskly to the introduction of glucocorticoids but hasty withdrawal can precipitate re-activation of the condition, a message illustrated by our case report in a patient identified with Cushing’s syndrome....

The link between exogenous steroid use and hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis suppression is well established. We present an unusual case where the use of an intra-oral steroid paste transiently obscured the diagnosis of Addison’s disease.A 45-year-old lady presented to hospital with a several week history of weight loss, nausea and vomiting, lethargy and postural dizziness. Physical examination was unremarkable except for hypotensio...

Prolonged use of oral corticosteroid treatment is associated with cushingoid side effects and HPA suppression. We are increasingly seeing similar problems associated with nasal steroid therapy.Case 1: A 41-year-old lady with history of asthma, allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps presented with a clinical appearance of Cushings syndrome. Her medication included Becloforte inhalers 250 mg tds and Betamethasone sodium phosphate nasal drops 0.1% 2 drops bd, b...