Endocrine Abstracts

IntroductionPrediction of the efficacy of antithyroid medication in Graves' disease would be of great value. There is no consensus if TSH levels at the end of treatment accurately predict relapse. Previous studies have not carefully defined Graves' disease nor used the same treatment protocol in all patients.AimTo study patients with Graves' disease treated with antithyroid medication to confirm or refute an ...

Background: Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance is observed in both lean and obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This condition affects 52% of Asian Indian compared to 22% of Caucasian women. Lifestyle changes, particularly diet and exercise can significantly impact the future prevention of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension in these patients.Objectives: We hypothesised that regular intensive exercise would be effective i...

We conducted a prospective audit of triple therapy in type 2 patients (Dec01 to Dec02). 51 patients on maximal Metformin and sulphonylurea had a Glitazone added. 11 patients were lost to follow up. The remaining 40 patients, 23 Male, 17 Female, mean age 51years (35-66), diabetes mean duration 8.5 years (2-16) had a mean BMI of 33.8 (range 22-47). Mean baselineHbA1C was 9.6% (7.3-12.3%).Parameters measured were blood pressure, height, weight BMI, full blo...

GATA3 is a member of the family of zinc finger transcription factors that recognise (A/T)GATA(A/G) motifs in DNA, and mutations that lead to haploinsufficiency cause the hypoparathyroidism, deafness and renal dysplasia syndrome (HDR). GATA3 has two zinc fingers, of which the carboxy-terminal finger (ZnF2) is essential for DNA binding, whereas the amino-terminal finger (ZnF1) stabilizes this binding and physically binds with other multi-type zinc finger proteins, which are refe...

Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed in pregnancy in about 0.1 - 0.4% of patients. Graves' disease is the commonest cause of thyrotoxicosis in pregnant women. The natural course of Graves' disease in pregnancy is characterised by an exacerbation of symptoms in the first trimester and during the post partum period. Symptoms usually tend to improve in the second half of pregnancy.We describe a patient who was diagnosed with Graves' disease in the third trimester of pregnancy. A 32 y...

An 18 year old nursery nurse suffered two probable seizures. She was commenced on Phenytoin. She had had a cleft palate repair. Clinical examination revealed hypertelorism and short fourth metatarsals. Early papilloedema was noted. Routine blood tests showed profound hypocalcaemia of 1.2 mmol/l. Serum phosphate , magnesium and parathormone levels were normal. She suffered a further seizure and was given intravenous calcium. She suffered no further seizures and calcium levels w...

Diabetes contributes to 80% mortality in coronary heart disease (CHD). Hyperglycaemia antedates diabetes and is a late stage in the series of events leading to diabetes.Stress hyperglycaemia on admission with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been reported to have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality/morbidity.We conducted a retrospective study of all AMI admissions to coronary care unit over a six-month period to see th...

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Corticosteroids are major contributors to normal blood pressure control and to hypertension. The diagnosis of 'primary aldosteronism' based on raised aldosterone: renin ratios is now common although demonstration of an adrenocortical tumour remains rare. Moreover, the relationship between aldosterone and renin or angiotensin II in essential hypertension is often disturbed, suggestive of altered control of aldosterone biosynthesis. Aldosterone is synthesised from 11-deoxycortic...

BACKGROUND Recent evidence has suggested that minor degrees of thyroid dysfunction are associated with adverse outcomes and this argues for tight control of thyroid hormone replacement. Thyroxine (T4) tablets are available in 25, 50 and 100 microgram strengths in the UK but some patients require doses which cannot be obtained with these strengths. We have examined data from a thyroid register to determine the proportion of patients whose mean daily T4 dose cannot be achieved w...