Endocrine Abstracts

Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) may well contribute to a number of co-morbidities and multitude of symptoms which may affect one’s daily activities adversely. TDS prevalence in UK is 5:1000 and certain groups of patient’s are at higher risk of TDS, in particular elderly and patients with diabetes mellitus where 42% are known to have TDS. A retrospective audit was carried out to bench mark our practice in line with a publication of a recommended National/Europe...

Positive interference in free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) immunoassays is well known, however we report a rare case of negative interference in the Roche fT4 and fT3 immunoassays in a 3-year-old girl with undetectable fT4 and fT3. She presented with increasing tiredness, abdominal pain, pain in her lower limbs and constipation. Examination was unremarkable. Thyroid func...

In the National Health Service (UK), there are ever increasing demands to streamline care and develop patient pathways and guidelines as justification for any test or procedure. This is to ensure optimisation in patient care and experience.The role of a specialist nurse focuses on ensuring appropriateness and swiftness of investigations, including providing a high level of clinical care which has its foundations on communication and education for the pat...

Hair loss after surgical treatment for acromegaly has been rarely described. We report a case of a patient with acromegaly that presented with hair loss after surgical treatment.We describe a case of a 73-year female that was diagnosed with acromegaly. Transesphenoidal surgery was performed with complete tumour resection and no immediate complications. Postoperative IGF -1, GH and OGTT for GH were measured at 12 weeks confirming biochemical remission. Th...

Case: A 46-years-old anaesthetist presented with 2 weeks history of general malaise, sore throat, and fever. Symptoms started while on holiday. A diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis was made overseas based on presentation and suppressed TSH level. He was started on betamethasone 4mg and ibuprofen for 2 weeks with rapid symptomatic improvement. He felt well enough to travel back to UK. He then presented to our hospital with recurrent symptoms as above.Inves...

Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours that classically present with a combination of symptomatic hypoglycaemia, low serum glucose values and resolution of symptoms post glucose ingestion.We describe a 65-year-old lady who repeatedly presented over several years with recurrent infections, predominantly of the urinary tract, nausea and diarrhoea, necessitating frequent hospital admissions. Despite extensive investigations, no clear cause for her symp...

We report two patients with thyroid nodules where thyroid cancer has unexpectedly been found. The first patient presented at the age of 58 years with a lump in her neck. She was clinically and biochemically euthyroid. Ultrasound revealed a solitary left hypoechoic nodule (23×17 mm), with no other suspicious sonographic features. She had two FNA’s over a two year period which were reported as showing no malignant cells (THY2). Three annual ultrasounds showed no change...

We report a case of a 27 yr female patient who initially presented with jaundice at 38 weeks gestation, with biochemical transaminitis. She had a caesarean section which was complicated postoperatively by hypotension due to haemorrhage requiring 20 units of blood/blood-products. A specialist liver unit felt the jaundice was secondary to fatty liver of pregnancy. She had difficulty breastfeeding and 18 months post partum she still had secondary amenorrhea so was commenced onto ...

Background: High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in diabetic patients has been reported and has been associated with microvascular complications and insulin treatment in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: Observational study in 92 inhospital patients with different types of diabetes. We analyzed the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration and the clinical features associated with diabetes.Results: Of 36...

Survival following treatment for childhood malignancy has improved considerably over the last 40 years. Complications of treatment are frequent and although the long-term follow-up of patients is recommended, only 35% of patients are seen regularly. Endocrine complications of cancer therapy, including thyroid dysfunction, are well recognised. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of hypothyroidism amongst the patients within the Bristish Childhood Cancer Survivor...