Endocrine Abstracts

Adrenal crisis (AC) is a life threatening condition in chronic adrenal insufficiency (AI). Furthermore, recent data demonstrate increased mortality in this patient group.Incidence and causes of adrenal crisis as well as general morbidity and hospitalization was assessed in 472 patients in a prospective trial. Patients were contacted via mail every 6 months and in case of AC additionally by phone to evaluate the exact circumstances of AC. Criteria for AC ...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is part of the Li-Fraumeni tumour syndrome which is due to germline mutations in TP53. Recent studies demonstrate low penetrance mutations leading to later tumour manifestation. Furthermore, in ACC mutations outside the hotspot region have been found. TP53-polymorphisms have also been described to impact on p53 function. We, therefore investigated TP53 sequence alterations in a large cohort of adult patients with ACC.Method...

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare solid tumor with poor prognosis in advanced stages. The adrenolytic drug mitotane and cytotoxic chemotherapies are current treatment options with limited clinical efficacy. Animal experiments pointed to an adrenotoxic effect of sunitinib suggesting potential antineoplastic activity in ACC.Study population: Thirty-eight patients with advanced ACC progressing after mitotane and 1–3 cytotoxic chemoth...

Subject: Treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are still unsatisfactory. We could recently demonstrate that several patients with ACC exhibit a high and specific uptake of 123I-Iodometomidate (123I-IMTO). Therefore, we investigated if 131I-IMTO holds potential for radiotherapy in ACC.Methods: Dosimetry with 40 MBq I-131-IMTO was performed over 5 days in 7 patients and calculated activities were administered on a compassionate use basis in ...

Introduction: Chemokines and their receptors (CR) have been demonstrated to be involved in tumour growth and site specific metastasis. Furthermore, several cytokines have been described to modulate adrenocortical function. Therefore, we have investigated the expression pattern and functional activity of chemokine receptors and of corresponding chemokines in adrenocortical tissue.Methods: Chemokine and CR expression was assessed by RT-PCR in normal adrena...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). Few data is available on QoL in adult male and female patients with CAH.Methods: Patients with CAH or PAI were contacted and received a disease specific questionnaire and three standardized questionnaires (SF-36, GBB-24 and HADS). Reference data for SF-36 scores were obtained from the German National Health Surve...

Subject: Inhibitors of CYP11B enzymes, particularly of aldosterone synthase, are currently under development as adrenostatic agents in heart failure or hyperaldosteronism, and for use in adrenal imaging. As CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 show high homology, analysis of specific binding to the respective human enzymes is of key importance.Methods: Y1 cell lines stably expressing hsCYP11B1 or hsCYP11B2 were established. Primary cultures of porcine and human adrenocor...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). No data is available on the effect of different therapeutical regimes (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortisone acetate) on the quality of life in these patients.Methods: About 883 patients with adrenal insufficiency were contacted, 526 patients participated (60%) and received a disease specific questionnaire and three sta...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with adrenal insufficiency. No data is available on the effect of twice or thrice daily administration of hydrocortisone on the quality of life in these patients.Methods: About 883 patients with adrenal insufficiency were contacted, 526 patients participated (60%) and received a disease specific questionnaire and three standardized questionnaires (SF36, ...

Adrenal crisis (AC) is a rare but life-threatening complication in chronic adrenal failure. Here we evaluated frequency, causes and potential risk factors of AC in a large sample of patients with primary AI (PAI) or secondary AI (SAI).In a cross-sectional study 883 patients with AI were contacted by mail. 526 patients agreed to participate and received a disease specific questionnaire. Diagnoses and co-morbidities were verified by review of medical recor...