Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder which affects the sacroiliac joints, the axial skeleton, peripheral joints as well as other organs. It develops in young adults causing significant mobility and functional disorders, with associated severe dysfunction or disability. Ankylosing spondylitis has serious adverse effects on the ability to work and quality of life. Biologic agents are used for the treatment of AS, this effect havin...

Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is known to induce remission and inhibit radiographic progression in RA. Tocilizumab may be administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. Its effect on lipid levels and the cardiovascular risk has not been fully investigated. The aim was to study the effect of tocilizumab i.v. on disease activity, lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in RA patients.<p class="ab...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic and dangerous disease, as it may be silent and may express itself with a sudden catastrophic event, such as a fracture. Treatment of osteoporosis demands the use of potent pharmaceutical agents with long lasting effects. In particular, bisphosphonates, such as ibandronate, may be used. It has become evident that chronic treatment with anti-osteoporotic agents may reverse the course of the disease, patients having normal bone mineral dens...

Introduction: Barrett’s esophagus is metaplasia in the cells of the lower end of the esophagus. It is characterized by the replacement of the normal stratified squamous epithelium lining of the esophagus by simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The disease is often related to gastroesophageal reflux and patients have pain necessitating chronic usage of proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors have been associated with the development of low bone mineral dens...

Introduction: Adrenal myelolipoma is an extremely rare benign adrenal tumor. Adrenal myelolipoma is characterized by the presence within the adrenal gland of mature adipose tissue and active bone marrow elements. Owing to their non-functional nature most cases are incidental, either at autopsy or through computer tomography scan. Occasionally the lesions attain a large size to become clinically apparent. Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder affecting approximately 1...

Introduction: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by the formation of tumors and cysts in diverse organ systems. Tumors may be malignant or benign and they tend to appear during young adulthood. Hemangioblastomas are characteristic of VHL syndrome.Aim: The aim was to describe the case of a patient with VHL syndrome presenting with musculoskeletal manifestations and multiple tumors.Case report: A ...

Introduction: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) glucose metabolism may be affected either by the autoimmune inflammatory disease itself, or by the treatment used to manage the disease. Metabolic syndrome seems to be prevalent in RA patients.Aim: The aim was to study the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 and metabolic factors related to the development of atherosclerosis within a cohort of RA patients cared for within a single Rheumatology Department....

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with cardiovascular comorbidity. In particular, patients with RA are known to be at increased for the development of atherosclerosis. Treatment with biological agents in RA may affect lipid levels.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of rituximab treatment on lipid levels in RA patients.Methods: In a cohort of 20 patients with RA lipid levels were studied before, 6 and 12 months a...

Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is known to induce remission and inhibit radiographic progression in RA. Tocilizumab may be administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. Its effect on lipid levels and the cardiovascular risk has not been fully investigated. The aim was to study the effect of tocilizumab administered either iv or sc on disease activity, lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in RA p...