Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Marked elevation of testosterone levels can be caused by tumors with hormonal hypersecretion. However, we should be aware of the relationship between thyroid and sexual hormones, including changes of SHBG.Case report: A 48-year-old man was recommended by an urologist to endocrinological examination due to high levels of total testosterone.CT scan of abdomen, pelvis and the pituitary did not show any abnormalities....

Background: It is controversial whether symptoms of hypothyroidism and quality of life (QoL) in people with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are impaired and whether treatment with L-thyroxine alleviates these. Previous studies of L-Thyroxine therapy have shown conflicting results. No previous study has simultaneously 1investigated effects of treatment on quality of life (QoL), health status, symptoms and treatment satisfaction.Methods: One hundred patie...

The cytoplasmic domains of EGF-like ligands have important biological functions. Stable transfectants of the human follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line FTC-133 over-expressing the cytoplasmic domain of proEGF (FTC-133-proEGFcyt) demonstrated a transcriptional up-regulation of the lysosomal hydrolases cathepsin- (cath-) B and -D and alterations in the processing of cath-L protein. Cath-L has strong elastinolytic activity and was the only of the three cathepsins to be secreted...

Objective: An audit comparing how the treatment of hypothyroidism has changed since the introduction of the Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) in April 2004 according to UK guidelines published by the Association of Clinical Biochemists and the British Thyroid Association (BTA) in 2005.Method: Data were collected from all patients with primary hypothyroidism in a fully computerized practice of 9830 patients under the care of 9 general practitioners. The mos...

We report the case of a 59-year-old male who presented complaining of several weeks of tiredness, poor appetite and dizziness on standing. He had been treated with flucloxacillin by his GP for otitis externa one week earlier.In 1982, he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Hong Kong, which was treated by radical dissection and radiotherapy.On examination, his standing and lying blood pressure were 150/100 and 110/90 respe...

A sixty-four-year old lady with a past medical history of total thyroidectomy for Graves’ disease and atrial fibrillation on amiodarone was referred to the endocrine out-patients in view of hypothyroidism. Since starting amiodarone, the TSH was noted to be elevated at 75 mU/l and the free T4 was 18 pmol/l. The patient complained of non-specific lethargy and was administered levothyroxine 50 mcg daily. Despite this her TSH remained elevated at 147 mU/l with a free T4 of 17...

The occurrence of vitamin D (vitD) insufficiency (plasma 25OHD<50 nmol/l) and deficiency (25OHD<25 nmol/l) in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) varies worldwide in prevalence, severity and symptoms. Epidemiological studies support that the clinical presentation of PHPT is more severe in patients with coexisting vitD deficiency. Most PHPT patients in Europe only have slightly decreased plasma 25OHD levels compared with gender-, age- and season matched controls, and sev...

Background: There are over 650 liver transplants performed in the UK each year and about 5000 throughout Europe. After transplantation patients suffer from bone loss due to multiple factors. We present a unique case of severe Vitamin D deficiency resulting in life threatening hypocalcaemia following liver transplantation.Case: A 65-year-old Indian lady underwent an uncomplicated liver transplant, for hepatocellular carcinoma related to Hepatitis C. Pre a...

A 45-year-old man was found wandering in the streets by the Ambulance Service. He complained of productive cough with haemoptysis. On examination he was cachectic with clubbing, and he was confused (abbreviated mental test score 1/10). Chest XR showed left hilar and perihilar air space shadowing. He was treated for a community acquired pneumonia. A CT scan of the head showed a mass lesion in the pituitary fossa, confirmed on an MRI scan.Assessment of his...

Introduction: Pituitary – dependent Cushing’s disease accounts for approximately 80% of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome but a target lesion is only detectable on MRI in 60% of cases. 11C-methionine PET CT improves detection of indeterminate pituitary lesions. Osilodrostat is a novel steroidogenesis inhibitor which reduces cortisol levels with resultant rise in ACTH and may further enhance the sensitivity of 11C-methionine PET CT in difficult cases...