Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The sequelae of surgically treated non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) is an important area of study to help plan management. The aim was to study all Maltese patients who had a surgically treated NFPA and analyse the results of surgery, risk factors for tumour recurrence/regrowth and the role of postoperative radiotherapy.Materials and methods: One hundred and seventy-five patients were identified as having a NFPA of whom 77 had unde...

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...

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...

Background: Very little is written regarding injection site reactions to somatostatin analogues and although very rare we are unprepared in dealing with these reactions. Patients are then met with an uncertain clinical team leading to significant delay in treatment. This poster aims to highlight the potential risks of injection site reactions by sharing an extreme case study. It will also share our attempt to deal with injection site reactions, lesson learnt and recommendation...

Retinopathy is one of the more serious complications of type 1 diabetes. There is emerging knowledge re the development of retinopathy in childhod diabetes. We studied the clinical profiles of children with retinopathy in an industrial town in Northern England. The current clinic size is 160. 42 patients were identied from clinic records as having retinopathy. Formal screening is offered to all patients from age 12. The age range was 11–20 years; median age 16. 55% were f...

Background: Despite being benign, craniopharyngiomas are challenging tumours to manage and can cause significant morbidity and mortality in both the paediatric and adult population.Method: Our aim was to analyse epidemiology, patient characteristics and long-term sequalae through a population-based study in Malta. A thorough research was carried out to identify patients who were diagnosed with craniopharyngioma in our local population. Subjects were iden...

A 58-year-old female presented with a 20-year history of resistant hypertension and hypokalaemia, with normal renal function. Investigations confirmed primary hyperaldosteronism that was not suppressed following a standard saline infusion test. CT scanning revealed a right-sided adrenal mass of 1.3 cm, with a signal intensity of −1 HU. The left adrenal was normal in appearance. A LDDST excluded ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome. Adrenal vein sampling confirmed rig...

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognised as an important cause of neonatal hypocalcaemia. In this case report, we discuss the impact of co-existing vitamin D deficiency on the diagnostic process in a preterm infant who had refractory hypocalcaemia due to hypoparathyroidism resulting from a homozygous GCM2 mutation.Case report: A 33-week gestation male infant of Pakistani extraction was found to be profoundly hypocalcaemic with seizur...

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a group of autosomal dominant inherited disorders causing non-insulin-dependent diabetes. MODY is the most common form of monogenic diabetes, accounting for 1-2 % of diabetes in Europe; however it is often misdiagnosed as Type 1 or 2 Diabetes. MODY is caused mainly by mutations in the GCK, HNF1A or HNF4A genes, the two former accounting for 70% of all cases. A molecular genetic diagnosis is important as it can directly alter patie...

Although overt thyroid disease is easily recognised, lesser disturbances of thyroid function can prove difficult to diagnose and be mimicked by other endocrine and non-endocrine disorders. Establishing the correct diagnosis depends on accurate interpretation of thyroid function tests (TFTs), which is usually straightforward; however, in a minority of situations, the results of FT4, FT3 and TSH measurement either do not ‘fit’ with the clinical picture and/or appear di...