Endocrine Abstracts

The results of transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly by a single neurosurgeon (MP) operated between 1981 and July 2002 were examined retrospectively. 141 database and case note records for patients with a clear pre-operative diagnosis of acromegaly were reviewed. Patients with incomplete pre- or postoperative data on growth hormone (GH) status were excluded from further analysis (n=14). The remaining 127 formed the audit group.Pituitary imaging data was available in 84 of...

Objectives: The UK TFT Guidelines (2006) recommend screening for heterophilic antibodies (HA), thyroid hormone resistance (THR) and TSHoma in samples with raised FT4 and detectable or raised TSH levels. The aim was to determine the frequency and aetiology of such ‘abnormal’ thyroid function tests (TFTs) and to evaluate the use of further analyses for this common biochemical abnormality.Design: Six-month retrospective study (1/08/06&#...

A 51 year old woman was referred for investigation of goitre. The patient described weight loss, sweating and hot flushes for 3 years. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy had been performed 14 years prior to presentation but the patient had been off HRT for 12 years.On examination the patient was thin, nervous and sweaty with a sinus tachycardia and a smooth goitre, but no signs of thyroid eye disease.Thyroid hormone levels were elev...

The continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) have recently been developed for use in diabetes to provide comprehensive blood glucose data around the clock during normal activities. We have demonstrated for the first time that CGMS can assist in the management of 2 patients with confirmed insulinomas. We present 2 female patients (aged 41 and 35 years) with symptoms suggestive of hypoglycaemia. Both had biochemical evidence of insulinoma with hypoglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia...

The continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) have recently been developed for use in diabetes to provide comprehensive blood glucose data around the clock during normal activities. We have demonstrated for the first time that CGMS can assist in the management of 2 patients with confirmed insulinomas. We present 2 female patients (aged 41 and 35 years) with symptoms suggestive of hypoglycaemia. Both had biochemical evidence of insulinoma with hypoglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia...

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid n-octanoylated peptide which is the natural agonist for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and which potently stimulates GH release in vivo (1). We studied the effects of a somatostatin infusion on Ghrelin release in normal subjects.STUDY PROTOCOLFour females and five males, 25-40 years of age, body mass index < 28 kg per m2 were studied. Local ethics committee permission was obtained for ...

Interferon alpha (IFNα) and Ribavirin combination therapy effectively eradicates Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in up to 80% of patients. Transient thyroid dysfunction (TD) (>80% hypothyroidism) usually due to a destructive thyroiditis has been recognised to occur in up to 25% of patients treated in Italy, Japan and Australia. However, data are lacking in a UK cohort and no standardised protocol for testing of thyroid function testing exists. The aim of this study was to det...

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide hormone that is expressed by a variety of tissues including the stomach, hypothalamus and kidney. Ghrelin produces a range of effects, including stimulating the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, and inducing feeding and obesity.The effects of some hormones can be altered by interactions with other proteins; so the aim of this project was to screen plasma for proteins that can bind ghrelin, as part of an i...