Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: POEMS syndrome is a rare multisystem disorder characterised by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma-proliferative disorder and skin changes among other features. We describe the course of the endocrine disease in the context of this paraneoplastic syndrome.Methods: Of the 60 patients with POEMS care in hospital, data are available for 43 patients who attended the Joint POEM...

Androgen excess in women is most commonly caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but sinister ovarian and adrenal pathology requiring immediate action needs to be excluded. Here we examined whether the severity of androgen excess indicates the likely underlying pathology in women evaluated for androgen excess.We included all women undergoing assessment of serum DHEAS, androstenedione (D4) and testosterone (T) by liquid chromatogra...

We report a case of 43 year old gentleman who had surgery in 1998 for left glomus typanicum, leaving him with complete left lower facial nerve palsy. Incidentally he was noted to have had labile blood pressure during this surgery. He had gradual growth of residual tumour which required fractionated radiotherapy in 2012. He has had ongoing problems with headaches with profuse left-sided rhinorrhoea and intermittent episodes of sweating. In...

Case history: A 32 year old female was admitted for an elective gynaecological procedure LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone) under general anaesthesia as per patient”s request. An uncomplicated LLETZ procedure was performed. Post operatively, patient was found to be tachycardiac and had severe palpitations with nausea. She then reported that she had recently lost a significant amount of weight, had been suffering with anxiety, palpitations, and tremors ...

Objective: Thyroid hormones are essential for maintaining metabolic balance and particularly influence lipid synthesis and degradation. Metabolomics and in-depth lipid profiling may enable us to assess for differential effects of thyroid hormones and provide insight into tissue thyroid status, that cannot be captured by levels of serum free thyroid hormones alone.Methods: 4,347 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who had thy...

Objectives: Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of thyroid hormones and is a target for autoimmune responses in autoimmune thyroid disease. TPO autoantibody (TPOAb) binding epitopes have been mapped on the peroxidase domain (POD) and the complement control protein like domain (CCP). This study aimed to solve the molecular structures of TPO bound to TPO antibodies.Methods: An extracellular domain (ECD) of human TPO (amino acids; aa 1...

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders have separately been linked to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Even small variations in thyroid function within the normal range may influence fetal growth. Previous data have shown that metformin-treatment of pregnant women with PCOS reduced late miscarriages and preterm births, and resulted in less decrease of fT4 compared to placebo. Moreover, metformin exposure in utero altered the offspring anthro...

Background: Germline mutations in the Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Hamartoma tumour (PTEN) gene are associated with a number of conditions, collectively known as PTEN hamartoma tumour syndromes (PHTS). Individuals with PHTS are at increased risk of a number of cancers primarily in adulthood including differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with an estimated lifetime risk of DTC of up to 38%. International guidance recommends screening commencing from 17 years while the 2017-U...

Introduction: Around 15% of people diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism remain significantly symptomatic despite TSH normalisation with levothyroxine (LT4). The Thr92Ala substitution (rs225014) in a key deiodinase that activates T4 to T3, DIO2 may influence tissue levels of T3 but previous studies have been inconsistent regarding symptoms on LT4 and the presence of this polymorphism.Methods: We assessed HADS anxiety and depression scores in the HUNT2 st...

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines advocate testing the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) in specific circumstances only. Tests should be taken following abstinence from drugs associated with false results. We aimed to determine the appropriateness of testing locally and any associated wasted healthcare costs.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ARR requests taken July-October 2019 and July-October 2021 in Swansea Bay University Health Board to dete...