Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Management of adrenal insufficiency (AI) with glucocorticoid replacement is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. There is growing evidence that this is because of excess, non-physiological steroid exposure. Low dose prednisolone (2-4 mg) is a once-daily alternative to standard hydrocortisone regimens that more closely mimics the circadian rhythm and may translate to better outcomes. There is however a paucity of studies comparing the two treatments.</...

Background: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a life-threatening condition if left unmanaged. Despite treatment patients can expect a life expectancy that is shortened by 12 years secondary to probable inherent over-replacement associated with oral glucocorticoid regimens. Thrice-daily hydrocortisone is the most common regimen used. Very low-dose prednisolone (2-4 mg) is an alternative with lower uptake due to the absence of evidence for its use. This study fills this literature g...

A 46-year-old lady was referred to endocrinology with thyrotoxicosis. She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease by her GP in October 2016 when presenting with classical symptoms and investigations [TSH<0.01 mIU/L (NR 0.3–4.2), fT4=34.3 pmol/L (NR 9–23), TSHrAb>30 u/mL (NR<0.4), and increased iodine uptake]. She was therefore started on carbimazole 15 mg/day. She returned to her GP in December 2016 reporting resolved symptoms, however, she ...

A 46-year-old lady was referred to endocrinology with thyrotoxicosis. She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease by her GP in October 2016 when presenting with classical symptoms and investigations [TSH<0.01 mIU/L (NR 0.3–4.2), fT4=34.3 pmol/L (NR 9–23), TSHrAb>30 u/mL (NR<0.4), and increased iodine uptake]. She was therefore started on carbimazole 15 mg/day. She returned to her GP in December 2016 reporting resolved symptoms, however, she ...

A 53 year old female weighing 117 kg was thought to be slightly cushingoid by her GP who checked a morning cortisol. This was surprisingly undetectable (<28nM) on 13th June 2022. The patient was urgently referred for a medical opinion. A repeat cortisol in A&E was 29nM with an undetectable ACTH. Given the lack of clinical features of adrenal failure, further history was obtained. The patient appeared well on examination, and denied any inhaled, oral/ topical steroid us...

Background: Increased circulating bile acids may contribute to improved glucose control and augmented secretion of the gut hormones peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) observed post-prandially in patients following bariatric surgery. Oral bile acids could represent a non-surgical means of improving glucose tolerance after a meal.Aim: To investigate the effects of a single oral dose of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenod...

Background: GLP-1/glucagon dual agonists are being developed as treatments for obesity due to their combined effect of reducing food intake while increase energy expenditure. Though the effect of the dual agonist on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is well studied, little is known about the effects on protein metabolism. This study aimed to examine the acute and chronic effects of the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist on amino acid metabolism.Methods: The lon...

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and familial hypercalcaemic hypocalciuria (FHH) can both present with hypercalcaemia, but their management and prognosis are quite distinct. The 24 h urine calcium: creatinine clearance ratio (CCCR) is used to distinguish FHH from PHPT, where patients with FHH have a CCCR of <0.01. This study compares the use of a spot urine sample to measure CCCR with the gold-standard 24-h urine CCCR.Objective: To eval...

A 36-year-old man, presenting to his GP with severe intermittent headaches, was found to have a blood pressure of 210/110 mmHg. He had been diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in early childhood, and had had a total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastamosis at the age of 17. Routine surveillance CT imaging the following month revealed an incidental finding of bilateral adrenal masses (right 4×2 cm, left 2.7×2.9 cm).On assessment in...

A 46-year-old lady presented with a short history of thirst and polyuria. She had a past history of hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was ruled out as she had normal blood glucose levels. She was found to be normocalcaemic but hypokalaemic. In view of the latter finding and her hypertension, her plasma renin activity and aldosterone was measured, and found to be 45 pmol/ml/hr and 410 pmol/l respectively (aldosterone:PRA ratio of 9.1). The diagnosis of secondary hyperaldosteronis...