Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyreotropin (TSH) is a glycoprotein containing an alpha-subunit similar to other glycoproteins (LH, FSH, ACTH, HCG) and a unique beta-subunit which reacts with the alpha-subunit in binding to the TSH-receptor. Low TSH levels are usually evidence of primary hyperthyreoidism as in Graves diseases/ toxic goiter or thyroiditis, or a result of secondary hypothyroidism in case of diseases of the pituitary gland. This case shows a rare variant causing apparently low TS...

Automated Bolus Calculators (ABC) were introduced into two inner city hospitals with a high deprivation index in August 2010.Objective: To observe the change in HbA1c for 3–6 months after the introduction of ABC and carbohydrate counting. Also to explore the effects of age, gender, psycho-social circumstances on HbA1c as well as the uptake of insulin pump therapy after implementation.Method: ABC were offered to all families wh...

Introduction: Our goal was to monitor and control the blood glucose levels in inefficiently controlled insulin-treated patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The target was to achieve an early detection of DM deregulation, to maintain accepted HbA1c levels through active intervention and to minimize the outpatient department visits.Description of methods/design: Twenty-six insulin-treated type 1 and 2 DM patients were enrolled (mean age 61.42±14.5 ye...

Introduction: During a normal menstrual cycle, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) can vary widely between cycles for the same woman, as well as between different women. Reliable reference values based on the local population are important for correct interpretation of laboratory results.Aims: To evaluate the discrepancy of the results on fertility hormones by two different t...

Background: Measurement of serum cortisol levels can be useful in the diagnosis of conditions of both adrenal insufficiency and excess. Several methods are available for the measurement of the cortisol levels and immunoassays are commonly used in routine laboratories. The aim of our study was therefore to compare four different automated immunoassays for measurement of cortisol in serum.Methods: Serum samples of seventy two healthy volunteers were used f...

A 29 year old woman with multiply-relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma became amenorrhoeic with vasomotor menopausal symptoms following multiple cycles of chemotherapy. Subsequent biochemistry confirmed primary gonadal failure (LH 30.7 U/L, FSH 49.9 U/L, oestradiol <70 pmol/L). Following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation she developed severe haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia. This was resistant to standard therapies, including methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofet...

Heterophilic antibody interference in serum TSH immunoassays can result in misdiagnosis of patients with suspected thyroid disease. Rheumatoid factor (RhF) is an immunoglobulin with reactivity to the Fc portion of human IgG. Some RhF species also cross-react with animal immunoglobulins so have the potential to act as heterophile antibodies. As part of the Cambridge Supra-Regional Assay service for thyroid function testing five serum samples with strongly positive RhF and posit...

In certain patients with autoimmune diseases (AID) and with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), moderate hyperprolactinemia can be present.Aim: Our aim was to investigate free PRL levels in RA, using two different PRL assays known to react with a different sensitivity to MPRL. The relationship between PRL and the disease-specific autoantibodies (antibody to cyclic citrullinated peptide:cCP-Ab and antinuclear antibody:AN-Ab) were analyzed also.<p class="abstex...

Usually, the first laboratory marker for thyroid disorders is TSH. FT4 and FT3 must not be measured unless TSH is out of the reference range. However, the reference range for TSH (and for free thyroid hormones) given by the manufacturers of immunoassays may be not completely valid for screening in iodine-deficient areas and among hospitalized patients either.Aim: Our aim was to constitute specific TSH, FT4, FT3...

The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G protein coupled receptor that is expressed in type A intercalated cells of the distal convoluted tubule and cortical collecting ducts, where it is involved in renal proton excretion. We have therefore investigated the Nuf mouse, which has an activating CaSR mutation (Leu723Gln) that leads to hypocalcaemia, hypercalciuria, renal calcification, a urinary concentrating defect, and cataracts, for disturbances in acid-base homeostasis. Mic...