Endocrine Abstracts

A young female presented concerned that she may have Addison’s disease. She had noted increasing pigmentation and reported her sister had died from undiagnosed Addison’s disease. She was hypotensive, with no postural drop in her blood pressure. She was hyponatraemic and hyperkalaemic. An initial 250 μg Synacthen test performed in the afternoon gave a baseline cortisol of 258 nmol/L and a 30 minute cortisol of 291 nmol/L. In view of this, the Synacthen test was r...

Patients with Cushing’s syndrome have a poor quality of sleep. However, little is known about their timing of sleep as regulated by the circadian clock, the so called-chronotype. Considering that patients with Cushing’s syndrome lose their rhythmic circadian cortisol secretion and that corticosteroids act as synchronizer of the circadian clock in cells, aim of the study was to determine whether patients with Cushing’s syndrome alter the timing of their sleep com...

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) results from prolonged glucocorticoid excess. Both iatrogenic and endogenous CS cause somatic and neuropsychiatric morbidity that do not fully reverse after biochemical disease control. However, the real-world socio-economic consequences for patients and their families are largely unknown.Aim: To determine the impact of CS on work status, income, education, marital status, parenthood, and depression before and ...

Introduction: In rare but severe cases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can present with neurological manifestations including stroke-like episodes, cognitive decline, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and coma. This is referred to as Hashimoto’s encephalopathy which is characterized by high titers of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies and is responsive to steroids. Herein, we present a case of a patient with acute onset aphasia, altered mental status with progression to respiratory...

Introduction: Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) are prone to hypertension as cortisol stimulates renal reabsorption of sodium and enhances vascular sensitivity to catecholamine and angiotensin II. This explains the frequency of hypertension in patients with CS. The aim of our work was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hypertension in CS.Material and methods: This is a retrospective study concerning 51 CS (44F/7M) in whom we looked ...

Introduction: The Quervain’s disease is an infrequent subacute thyroiditis (ST) that results in granulomatous infiltration of the gland’s parenchyma. Is usually diagnosed clinically based on cervical pain, systemic symptoms, altered thyroid function tests (TFTs) and history of upper respiratory tract infection. It is a benign self-limited condition that may share US features with malignancy which may result in improper therapy, including lobectomy.<p class="abs...

A 22-year old lady was referred with a history of fatigue, generalised aches and pains. Investigations revealed persistently low potassium on few occasions. There was no history of diarrhoea or vomiting. No laxative, diuretic or liquorice abuse. PMH: treated hypothyroidism and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. She weighed 46 kg and her BP was 115/63. Further investigations: sodium 140 mmol/l, potassium 2.6 mmol/l (3.5–5.0), bicarbonate 28 mmol/l (22–28), magnesium...

Introduction: Cortisol activates lipolysis in adipose tissue resulting in the release of free fatty acids into the circulation, it also activates cholesterol and triglycerides synthesis. The consequence is an increase in total circulating cholesterol and triglycerides with their inherent risks on the cardiovascular system. The aim of our work was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of dyslipidaemia in Cushing’s syndrome (CS).Material and me...

Introduction: Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome constitutes the second most common paraneoplastic syndrome and has been seen in 1-5 % of small cell lung cancers. It has a poor prognosis and can present with life-threatening complications.Case: We present a 66-year-old lady who attended with peripheral oedema, bruising and visual blurring. Past medical history included bronchiectasis, oesophageal web, ischemic colitis, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, and hypoxic br...

Introduction: Cortisol has numerous actions on glucose metabolism and insulin action which explain the frequency of glucose abnormalities in Cushing’s syndrome (CS). The aim of our work was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of diabetes in CS.Material and methods: This is a retrospective study concerning 51 CS (44F/7M) in whom we looked for the presence of diabetes either by fasting glycaemia or 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Thereafter...