Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Prednisolone is the standard treatment for most inflammatory conditions. However, it is also used in hormone replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency (AI) due to historical reasons or due to its longer half-life and once daily application. Recent data showed that 5 mg daily prednisolone promotes loss in bone mineral density compared to 20 mg of hydrocortisone in patients with AI questioning the 4:1 conversion rate. Data is scarce on prednisolone treated AI pa...

Introduction: Glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy is administered to patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) in multiple daily doses; however, there are no consensus guidelines on the optimal regimen.Methods: The European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR) is a multinational, multicentre, observational study sponsored by Shire, initiated to monitor the long-term safety of GC replacement in patients with chronic AI. We analysed baseline data to ...

Introduction: Patients with acromegaly are frequently left with long-term adverse sequelae. When compared with individuals with other pituitary adenomas, patients with acromegaly demonstrate greater impairment in their quality of life (QoL).Methods: The disease-specific questionnaire, AcroQoL, and the generic psychological general well-being schedule (PGWBS) were used to evaluate QoL in an acromegaly patient cohort. Longitudinal data were also collected ...

Introduction: No consensus guidelines currently exist as to the optimal glucocorticoid regimen in adrenal insufficiency (AI). In clinical practice physicians utilise a number of different glucocorticoids, usually administered in several doses throughout the day.Methods: The EU-AIR registry is a European multinational, multicentre, prospective, observational study sponsored by Shire inclusive of all patients with AI irrespective of aetiology. We analysed ...

Introduction: During recent years many authors have advocated lower hydrocortisone doses in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) mainly due to worries for non-physiological effects like increased cardiovascular risk and bone resorption, but very little attention has been drawn to fludrocortisone dosing. Our main hypothesis was that that the higher hydrocortisone dose, the lower the fludrocortisone dose and vice versa.Design: The Eur...

Introduction: Current understanding about the frequency of adrenal crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) relies exclusively on retrospective data (~6.3 adrenal crisis per 100 patient-years). In addition, no data are available about the frequency of intercurrent illness events in AI patients. For the first time we prospectively used a patient’s diary in recording events of adrenal crisis and intercurrent illness in AI patients.Design: Th...

Introduction: Data concerning patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) have been limited by small numbers of patients reflecting the relatively low prevalence of this disease. The European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR) is a multicenter observational study of patients with both primary and secondary AI. Enrollment commenced August 2012. Comprehensive demographic data, aetiology of AI, and details of glucocorticoid replacement therapy are collected at baseline. Safety ...

Introduction: A once-daily modified-release formulation of hydrocortisone (Plenadren®) has been developed to better mimic physiological cortisol secretion in the treatment of patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). Here, we describe EU-AIR, an ongoing post-authorization observational study (registry) designed to collect information on AI management and to assess the long-term safety of Plenadren® compared with traditional glucocorticoid replac...

Introduction: Identification and treatment of central hypothyroidism in hypopituitarism is crucial particularly in patients with significant lethargy under consideration for GH replacement. Early Identification of TSH deficiency can be challenging particularly when both the TSH and fT4 lie within the normal range.Methods: 26 362 TFTs derived from ambulatory community dwelling individuals represented the control group. TFTs from 227 patients with a putati...

Introduction: Identification and treatment of central hypothyroidism in hypopituitarism is crucial particularly in patients with significant lethargy under consideration for GH replacement. Early Identification of TSH deficiency can be challenging particularly when both the TSH and fT4 lie within the normal range.Methods: 26 362 TFTs derived from ambulatory community dwelling individuals represented the control group. TFTs from 227 patients wi...