Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Following treatment of Graves’ disease (GD), levels of thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies (TRAb) tend to decrease depending on treatment modality and length of follow up. We have assessed TRAb biological activity at follow up, years after GD treatment.Subjects and methods: TRAb concentration and biological activity were measured in 69 GD patients (59 females; 10 males; median age 59 years; TRAb positive at diagnosis), with follow up r...

Introduction: Following treatment of Graves’ disease (GD), levels of thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies (TRAb) tend to decrease depending on treatment modality and length of follow up. We have assessed TRAb biological activity at follow up, years after GD treatment.Subjects and methods: TRAb concentration and biological activity were measured in 69 GD patients (59 females; 10 males; median age 59 years; TRAb positive at diagnosis), with follow up r...

Background: NEQAS data demonstrate a divergence in bias of cortisol immunoassays over the last 10 years. Despite this, a serum cortisol of 50 nmol/l has been universally applied as the cut-off for the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST), the commonest screening test for Cushing’s syndrome.Aims: To assess the effect of assay bias on interpretation of the ONDST and determine the necessity for a method-specific cut-off.<p class="abstex...

Introduction: The effects of mild subclinical hypothyroidism (SH; TSH <10 mU/l) on metabolic outcomes are unclear. This may relate to differences in aetiology, including thyroid autoimmunity or genetic factors such as TSH-receptor mutations (TSHR-M) and FOXE1 polyalanine tract length (FOXE1–PTL) polymorphisms, which are associated with altered thyroid function. We hypothesised that the metabolic manifestations of SH may depend upon its aetiology.<p class="abstext"...

Background: Treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in childhood focuses on growth and development; however the relationship of childhood treatment with adult health outcomes is not established. We explored this by examining relationships between final height (FH) and cardiometabolic risk in CAH adults.Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 65 men (80% salt wasting (SW) and 20% non-SW) and 134 women (74% SW and 26% non-SW), aged 18–69 years....

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may have increased cardiovascular (CV) risk but the mechanisms are unclear. Microparticles (MP), small circulating vesicles released from platelets, monocytes and endothelial cells, are elevated in patients with CV disease, and may increase CV risk through altered cell content and/or increased surface exposure of procoagulant phosphatidylserine (PS).Aims: To compare MP characteristics between women ...

Background: Serum prolactin levels at presentation can be useful in distinguishing between non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas and prolactinomas in order to guide appropriate therapy. Although thresholds have been suggested to distinguish between the two tumour-types, there remains some debate regarding discriminatory levels.Objective: To assess the baseline serum prolactin levels in a series of patients with histologically-proven non-functioning pit...

Background: Quality of life (QoL) has been variously reported as normal or impaired in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) adults. We found impaired QoL in UK CAH adults (Arlt et al. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2010 95 5110–5121) and now report the relationship between QoL (SF-36) and health outcomes in these patients.Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 151 CAH adults with 21-hydroxylase defi...

Introduction and aims: The short Synacthen test (SST) is used to diagnose underactivity of the HPA axis, with a cortisol response <550 nmol/l at 30 min widely accepted as diagnostic of adrenal insufficiency. Earlier studies of the SST have shown variation in cortisol concentrations measured by different immunoassays, suggesting the need for method-specific cut-offs. We sought to define the cortisol response to Synacthen in healthy volunteers (HV) and establish method-speci...

The association between Cushing's syndrome and pregnancy is uncommon due to associated sub-fertility. Recognising this is important, as there implications for both mother and foetus.A twenty year old presented at twenty three weeks gestation. Insulin requiring diabetes had developed as had oedema. Pigmented abdominal striae were prominent. Her serum sodium concentration was noted to be low (3 mmol/l). 24 hour urinary free cortisol was elevated (>1380 ...