Endocrine Abstracts

Acromegaly is a chronic disease with typical clinical signs evoked by overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like factor 1 (IGF1). It is nearly always caused by somatotroph adenoma which can be visualized by MRI scanning. Other causes of acromegaly are very rare and comprises ectopic secretion of GH or GH-RH by other neoplasms.Here, we present a case of 62-year old acromegalic woman. Acromegaly was firstly diagnosed 9 years ago. Her GH concent...

The most typical signs of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) are easy bruising, hypertension and ‘cushingoid’ phenotype with central deposits of fat tissue. Moreover, hypercortisolemia may affect also reproductive system leading to loss of libido and impotence in men and menstrual disturbances and infertility in women.However, some of the patients remains fertile, although pregnancy is uncommon and is associated with fetal morbidity and mortality in ...

Hyperthyroid patients show an impaired response or even resistance to digoxin treatment.Objectives: 1. Are there any differences in the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of digoxin between hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients? 2. Does simultaneous administration of digoxin and methimazole or digoxin and acebutolol affect the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of dogoxin? 3. Does methimazole-induced euthyroidism change the pharmacokinetics of a si...

We present a case of a 73 year old female with recurrent non-functioning adenoma and co-existent mantle cell lymphoma within the pituitary fossa. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is rare comprising around 6% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses. It infrequently involves the central nervous system, with only one published case of involvement of the pituitary gland. Our patient initially presented in April 2003 with marked visual loss due to a large non-functioning cystic pituitary macro...

Background and aims: Hypoglycemia can be a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. However, changes in platelets and coagulation hemostasis during hypoglycemia have not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on the platelet activity, endothelial dysfunction and the physiological anticoagulant level in patients with DM1.Research design and methods: We studied seve...

Background: Despite the strong preclinical rationale, there are only very few data considered the utility of metformin, as a potential pain therapeutic in humans. The aim of this study was to determine, the association between metformin therapy and pressure pain threshold (PPT) in lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. We hypothesized that metformin therapy in lean PCOS women increases pressure pain threshold.Materials and methods: Twenty-seven lea...

Acromegaly is caused by growth hormone-secreting adenoma in more then 95% cases. Ectopic secretion of GH-RH is a rare cause of acromegaly accounting for less than 1% of all cases. The most frequent source of ectopic GHRH is bronchial carcinoid. Clinical and biochemical findings are similar in both conditions. A distinction of pituitary vs extrapituitary acromegaly is important in planning effective management and both reasons should be considered in the diagnostic process....

Introduction: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the causes of hypertension. Blood aldosterone and the aldosterone/direct renin concentration (DRC) are routinely used as a screening test for PA.Aim of study: Whether it matters if aldosterone concentration is determined in serum or plasma samples?Material and methods: 145 healthy males, five females (blood donors) were investigated. In all subjects blood was collected into two tub...

Introduction: Brown tumor–well circumscribed lytic lesion is one of the complication of advanced stage of primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. It may be also a first clinical sign of primary hyperparathyroidism. Nowadays this is rare manifestation in developed countries due to increased use of routine screening laboratory examinations. Brown tumors may also mimic true neoplasm and lead to misdiagnosis if close attention is not paid. We present three case reports and...

Introduction: Chromogranin A (CgA) is a main, nonspecific marker of neuroendocrine tumours (NET). There are various commercially assays for the measurement of CgA concentration in serum or plasma. These assays differ in analytical techniques (RIA, ELISA, CLIA), have different standardization, and use different antibodies which recognize different epitopes of CgA molecule.Aim of study: Our study was designed to confirm the noted earlier differences in CgA...