Endocrine Abstracts

Large animals are increasingly used a models for endocrine research. Unlike rodents they are cortisol-dominant and thus more similar to humans. In this study we use two novel analytical methods to compare the steroid profile of pigs, sheep and humans; 1. Simultaneous quantification of primary glucocorticoids, glucocorticoid precursors and mineralocorticoids in plasma (>20 steroids); 2.Quantification of glucocorticoids metabolites (>10 ...

Introduction: The RECOVERY trial2 reported patients with Covid-19 receiving requiring invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen that the use of dexamethasone (6 mg for 10 days) resulted in lower 28-day mortality. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression3 is a serious, potentially life-threatening side effect of glucocorticoids treatment.Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of Co...

Introduction: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the criterion standard method of lateralisation in primary aldosteronism (PA). Despite this pivotal role, there is limited consensus and significant variability between centres related to many of the technical aspects of AVS. In this study, we sought to address whether variations in two different technical aspects of AVS altered parameters and interpretation, namely: 1. Peripheral sample site 2. Method of adrenal vein (AV) venesec...

Introduction: Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) catalyses the final step in sphingolipid metabolism, irreversibly degrading the lipid signalling molecule sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). The relative abundance of S1P compared to its precursors sphingosine and ceramide finely tunes signal transduction for a wide range of cellular pathways including proliferation, apoptosis, migration and calcium handling. Loss-of-function mutations in SGPL1 cause a spectrum of disorders, incl...

Aim: To assess whether patients on glucocorticoids understand how to manage their medication in the event of intercurrent illness.Background: Studies have shown that, after as little as two weeks of glucocorticoid treatment, 10% of patients have adrenal suppression and it can take one year or longer for adrenal function to recover. With 7 out of 1000 people in the general population prescribed glucocorticoids, there is a large group at risk of adrenal cr...

Case history: A 62-year-old lady with no significant past medical history presented early February 2021 with a week history of epigastric pain, tiredness and poor oral intake, 5 days following her first dose of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. She was cardiovascularly stable but generalised abdominal tenderness was noted. There was no history of hypertension, hypokalaemia or symptoms consistent with phaeochromocytoma.Investigations: Admission bloods reveale...

Introduction: Covid -19 can cause serious or severe illness in anyone but those with chronic health conditions are at greater risk. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is assumed to be associated with an increased Covid-19 infection risk, which could trigger an adrenal crisis. We conducted a retrospective study at district general hospital to assess the incidence of COVID-19 in Adrenal insufficiency patients.Method and material: Retrospective review of 43 patient...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder characterized by insufficient production of cortisol and high androgens. Myelolipoma is a benign neoplasm of adrenal gland composing mature adipose tissue and scattered islands of hematopoietic elements. We report a case of rare association of giant bilateral adrenal mylelolipoma in a congenital adrenal hyperplasia patient who was non-compliant with medication.<p class="abstext"...

Introduction: National audits suggest significant variation in experience of individual surgeons performing adrenalectomies. A 2016 cross specialty consensus statement recommended that adrenal surgeons perform a minimum of six adrenalectomies per year given improved outcomes with higher volume surgeons. Patients in the Scottish Highlands requiring adrenalectomy are referred to a single Consultant Urologist with a specialist interest in retroperitoneal surgery based in Raigmore...

Introduction: Patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI), continue to face many challenges including: dealing with symptoms and associated disorders; managing medication regimens; prevention and management of complications, and effective engagement and interactions with healthcare providers. In patients with AI, adrenal crisis (AC) continues to lead to unnecessary deaths. We illustrate how University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust used the 4E framework (En...