Endocrine Abstracts

Macroprolactin, a high molecular mass complex of prolactin and an IgG antibody is confined to the vasculature and exhibits limited bioactivity in vivo. Using a panel of sera obtained from 10 subjects whose hyperprolactinaemia was due entirely to macroprolactin this study aims to compare the level of detection of macroprolactin by 9 of the most commonly used prolactin immunoassays.The study involved 24 clinical laboratories employing the following 9 anal...

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, cortisol and adrenal androgens. ACTH regulates the production of both cortisol and adrenal androgens. However there are physiological and pathophysiological conditions where the production of these steroids is divergent. We examined the effect angiotension II (A-II) and insulin on the relative production of cortisol and adrenal androgens in the human adrenal H-295 cell line. We determined the ability of these secretogogues to regulate t...

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, cortisol and adrenal androgens in response to secretogogues including ACTH, angiotensin II(A-II) and insulin. Differential regulation of adrenal steroids is through the modulation of specific key steroidogenic enzymes. The capacity of the adrenal to produce cortisol is controlled in part by the transcription of 3beta-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase (3beta HSD) and production of adrenal androgens by 17 hydroxylase/17-20 lyase (CYP17). Protei...

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart malformation that has been identified as an abnormal communication between the ventricles. The defect can be found at any part of the septum. A large VSD allows unimpeded left-right shunt with subsequent development of pulmonary hypertension and shunt reversal. The shunt reversal leads to development of Eisenmenger syndrome. We present the case of 40-year-old female with ventricular septal defect with Eis...

Background: Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance defined by a low serum magnesium level. Causes of hypomagnesemia include inadequate dietary intake, decreased intestinal absorption, and increased renal excretion. The clinical presentation varies depending on the severity of the magnesium deficiency-from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild symptoms, to severe, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and seizures.Case presentation: A 55-year-old ...

Introduction: Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is a rare congenital pituitary malformation characterized by the classical triad: pituitary stalk rupture, absent or ectopic neurohypophysis, and hypoplasia or aplasia of adenohypophysis. The clinical presentation depends on the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis. Patients may also have seizures, hypotension, and mental retardation at presentation. He aim is to describe a patient with an unrecognized pituitary...

Introduction: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are at increased risk of being overweight. Being overweight could be related to insulin requirements, female gender, and duration of diabetes. The aim of this study is to examine the Body Mass Index (BMI) of children and young people with T1DM at the Children’s Hospital for Wales and explore co-factors that may contribute to risk.Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with T1DM att...

Pregnancy in acromegalic patients is an infrequent event, but with earlier diagnosis and advanced surgical/medical management, more affected women get pregnant.The use of Somatostatin analogues (SSA) during pregnancy seems safe, but there are few reported pregnancies under this treatment.We report two acromegalic patients treated with SSA that became pregnant.Case 1: Thirty-three year old woman diagnosed with...

Adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy, especially in children, and the annual worldwide incidence has been calculated as 0.3 cases per million children younger than 15 years old. We present a case of functioning ACC in a 7 years-old female child who manifested with virilization. She presented with low-pitched voice, excessive pubic hair growth, growth acceleration, clitoral enlargement and increased muscle strength at the age of six. Her blood pressure was norm...

Introduction: Assessment of hypoglycaemia in neonates is challenging due to limited blood availability, and lower glucose readings compared to adults. ISO criteria used to assess the accuracy of glucometers are based on adult needs where values below 4.2 mmol/l require intervention. National neonatal guidelines define an action threshold for hypoglycaemia as a glucose below 2mmol/l. We currently use a Radiometer ABL-735 blood gas analyser which uses 35 microlitres of blood. We...