Endocrine Abstracts

The pathogenesis of gonadotrophin secreting pituitary tumours (gonadotrophinomas) remains poorly understood. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important for the control of cell proliferation and differentiation and BMP2 is essential for commitment of undifferentiated pituitary cells to the gonadotroph cell lineage. In addition, BMPs have been implicated in tumourigenesis in a variety of tissues, associated with up-regulated expression of Id (Inhibitors of differentiation)...

Objectives: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is characterized by normal serum free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3) levels and increased serum TSH levels. Endothelial dysfunction that is accepted an early step of the atherosclerosis, has been reported in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to eveluate endothelial functions and the effect of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy on e...

Objective: Epidemiological evidence for a link between serum IGF1 concentration and cardiovascular disease in the general population and in patients with GH deficiency or hypersecretion has been demonstrated. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. We investigated associations between IGF1 levels within the reference range and different measures of cardiovascular function and risk factors in substituted GH deficient adults within a randomized clinical trial.<...

Water balance disorders following neurosurgery are well recognised and may give rise to both hypo- and hypernatraemia. We present the case of a 42-year-old male who developed a triphasic response after extended transsphenoidal surgery for a pituitary stalk lesion. The patient presented with a 4 month history of unremitting frontal headaches and dizziness. MRI confirmed a 15×15 mm stalk lesion. Clinical examination including formal visual perimetry was unremarkable. Blood ...

A 39-year-old woman presented at 23 weeks gestation with extreme fatigue and non-specific neurological symptoms. Other than mild hypertension her physical examination was normal. Serum calcium was 3.36 mmol/l (normal 2.12–2.62) and phosphate 0.8 mmol/l (Normal 0.8–1.5). She was severely hypercalcemic throughout pregnancy and her corrected calcium ranged between 2.82 and 3.48 mmol/l. Other investigations included 25 hydroxy-Vitamin D3 98 (normal 75–200...

A 49 year old male, known to suffer from hypertension, was bein investigated for recurrent occipital headaches. An MR Brain showed a 2.4 cm×2.8 cm×4.2 cm sellar mass with suprasellar extension, optic chiasm compression, infrasellar extension with erosion into the sphenoidal sinus, lateral extension into the left sided cavernous sinus and further extension through the cavernous sinus into the parietal lobe. The tumour contained some cystic areas and moderately enhance...

Introduction: Dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus have a complex relationship. Uncontrolled diabetes can result in hypertriglyceridaemia through decreased adipose tissue and muscle lipoprotein lipase activity. Conversely, insulin resistance and diabetes can occur in association with primary familial hyperlipidaemia. Eruptive xanthomas can be a presenting feature of the severe hypertriglyceridaemia found in familial hyperlipidaemia.Although there are repo...

Over recent years, the numbers of commercially available slimming aids have increased dramatically. Whilst the majority of these aids are harmless, their interaction with normal physiology is either not understood or not brought to the attention of the customer. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with clinical and biochemical thyrotoxicosis (fT4 31.5 pmol/l, fT3 14.3 pmol/l, TSH <0.02 mIU/l). She had elevated TPO antibodies (51 IU...

Background: Excessive ingestion of Liquorice produces a state of apparent mineralocorticoid excess may result in sodium and water retention, hypertension, hypokalemia and suppression of the renin-aldosterone system. Yorkshire is famous for Liquorice confectionaries. In this paper we discuss about a patient with persistent hypokalemia secondary to excessive liquorice.Case report: Fifty years old lady referred by GP with one year history of hypertension on...

BackgroundHypercalcaemia is commonly encountered during clinical practice. SCCOHT is a rare ovarian malignancy typically found in young women. In two thirds of patients, it causes a paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia which is usually asymptomatic.Case ReportA thirty-seven-year-old lady, presented to casualty with a one -week history of worsening nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, polydipsia, and polyuria....