Endocrine Abstracts

Scattered case reports have described patients who have been diagnosed with both primary hyperaldosteronism and prolactinoma. Prolactin receptor (PRLR) is known to be expressed in human adrenal cortex. Furthermore, PRLR mRNA and protein have both been detected in human adrenal tumors. It has also been shown that PRL treatment of adrenal cells is capable of stimulating aldosterone secretion. The contribution of PRL to the development of hyperaldosteronism is u...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH) is encoded by the CYP21A2 gene. The CYP21A2 gene is partially overlapped by the TNXB gene encoding an extracellular matrix protein called Tenascin-X. Deficiency of Tenascin X can cause the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Deletions of CYP21A2 extending into TNXB rarely cause CAH combined with EDS. CAH associated with mild hypermobility form of EDS due to TNXB haploinsufficiency caused by heterozygous mutation h...

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is a technically demanding procedure required for identification of suitable candidates for unilateral adrenalectomy in primary aldosteronism. Recently, somatic mutations in aldosterone producing adenomas (APA) have become a focus of research. We identified KCNJ5 K+-channel mutations in 34% of APAs, and more recently mutations in 2 ATPase family members in 11 and 6%. However, it is unclear whether steroid gradients during the AVS are infl...

Context: Primary aldosteronism (PA) represents the most frequent cause of a curable secondary arterial hypertension. Conflicting data have been published regarding the effect of aldosterone excess on glucose and lipid metabolism.Objective: Our aim was to analyze insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in a cohort of PA patients. Prospective follow-up investigations were performed in a subgroup of patients before and after adrenalectomy to assess the m...

Background: The development of recombinant biologics has had a major impact on many diseases. However, most biologics are rapidly cleared from the body and therefore require frequent injection regimens. There is therefore a need for technologies that allow the half-lives of these molecules to be extended in a predictable manner.HypothesisIncreasing numbers of N-linked glycosylation motifs between two GH molecules leads to gradually...

Introduction: Patients with craniopharyngeoma often have disturbances of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis and serious comorbidities as obesity. We hypothesized, that the pattern of hormones regulating the nutritional status is worsened in adult patients with craniopharyngioma (CP) compared to adult patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA).Methods: We included 33 patients with CP (m=16, f=17, median age: 48 years (26–7...

Objective: GH replacement therapy currently requires daily injections, which may cause poor compliance and distress for patients. CTP-modified hGH (MOD-4023) is being developed for once-weekly administration in GH Deficient adults and children. The present study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of MOD-4023 in GHD adults.Design and methods: 39 normalized GHDA patients currently treated with daily GH were randomized and...

Introduction: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent curable form of hypertension. Hypokalemia is a late symptom of PA. Consequently, PA often is not diagnosed for many years. Our aim was to identify clinical and laboratory parameters in a large cohort of PA patients obtained during their first assessment.Methods: 96 consecutive patients prospectively studied since 2008 at the German Conn’s Registry Center in Munich were eligible for this s...

Background: Screening for primary aldosteronism (PA) using the aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) is recommended by clinical practice guidelines in patient groups with a high prevalence as the disease is reported by several authors in more than 10% of essential hypertensives (EH).Methods: Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and direct renin (DR) were measured using two novel automated chemiluminescence assays (IDS-iSYS; Boldon, UK) and compared to the S...

Introduction: Acromegaly is preferentially treated by surgery and/or radiotherapy before pregnancy, in order to avoid use of medication during pregnancy, and prevent GH excess related complications for mother and child. Only two cases of use of pegvisomant during pregnancy have been described; in one patient medication was discontinued after the first trimester, and in the other pegvisomant was used as monotherapy.Case report: A 29-years old female had b...