Endocrine Abstracts

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction occurs in 5–10% of women in the general population within one year of delivery. The prevalence of postpartum Graves’ disease is estimated at 0.54%. Postpartum thyroiditis is much more common. Differential diagnosis is essential for an adequate treatment. Radioactive iodine uptake can be useful to establish the etiologic diagnosis, but is contraindicated during lactation. Elevated titers of antithyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) are...

Introduction: Hypothyroidism can affect the nervous system, commonly causing mono and polyneuropathies which show a variable frequency and pattern. Its mechanisms are not fully understood. Symptoms usually correlate better with the duration of the dysfunction rather than with its severity and typically improve significantly after medical therapy.Case report: A 58-year-old woman was admitted at our hospital with a one-year history of progressive weakness ...

Introduction: Radioiodine treatment (RAIT) is an effective definitive treatment for Graves’ Disease (GD) and Toxic Nodular Goiter (TNG). The aim of this study was to analyze demographic and clinical factors affecting the outcome of RAIT in patients with hyperthyroidism.Methods: Retrospective review of patients treated with RAIT for hyperthyroidism. A fixed dose of 10 mCi was administered to patients with GD and 15 mCi to patients with TNG. Treatment...

Introduction: Clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) represents up to 30% of pituitary tumours. Management is dictated by their size or mass effect. The natural progression of NFPA attracts debate as the evidence-base is limited.Methods: Conservatively managed NFPA patients were included. A single radiologist reviewed all images to avoid bias.Results: Forty-six patients were identified, 21 female. Four presented acutel...

Introduction: Incidental pituitary adenoma (IPA) is found in 10–20% autopsy and radiological series. These are being increasingly detected as access to sensitive imaging modalities improves.Methods: Patients with incidental pituitary findings between 2012 and 2016 were identified from local database. Referral details, clinical features and radiological findings were analysed. A single radiologist reviewed all images to avoid bias.<p class="abste...

Objective: To study the GLP-1 pattern of secretion after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in women in postpartum reassessment of previous gestational diabetes (GDM). To evaluate clinical and laboratory parameters that can influence GLP-1 secretion.Patients and methods: Forty-eight women with a history of GDM were assessed one year after childbirth determining clinical and analytical characteristics and OGTT with 75 g. We measured glucose, insulin an...

Acromegaly is caused by excessive growth hormone (GH) secretion frequently due to GH-secreting pituitary tumors. Acromegalic tumors (ACRO) display reduced microvascular density versus normal pituitaries, suggesting they are under hypoxic conditions. Under hypoxia, tumors gain a survival advantage by stabilizing the transcription factor known as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1a). Western blot screening of ACRO (n=40) revealed significantly higher HIF1a protein l...

Introduction: Bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia ACTH-independent (BMAH) represents less than 1% of the causes of Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Studies have shown that mutations in the gene ARMC5 are a common cause of family BMAH and are associated with severe clinical disease and the development of meningiomas.Case report: 64-years-old man presented to our consult due to bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. He had diabetes mellitus, arter...

Introduction: A precisely measured corticoid level is important for decision-making in daily clinical practice. These levels can be influenced in the pre-analytical phase, when the effect of stress, timing, and diet can be important.The aim of this study was to elucidate optimal conditions for blood sampling as well as the choice of analytical methods, which they will be used in measuring of corticoids.Methods: By studying ten wome...

Introduction: Hypercalcemia can be caused by a variety of pathologies/factors. Vitamin D plays a central role in calcium homeostasis, where a tight control of its metabolism is necessary. Inadequate 24-hydroxylase-enzime (CYP24A1) activity leads to failure of 25-hydroxyvitamin and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 inactivation, resulting in hypercalcemia.Case report: An asymptomatic, 22-year-old woman was admitted in an Endocrinology appointment for evaluation o...