Endocrine Abstracts

Long acting somatostatin analogues (SMS) are extensively used as second and even first line treatment of acromegaly. Except of the inhibition of GH secretion, somatostatin is a potent inhibitor of insulin secretion from the pancreatic b- cells. As defects of glucose homeostasis are very common in acromegaly, we decided to examine the effect of the control of GH hypersecretion with SMS on glucose metabolism.We study 44 acromegalic patients divided in 3 gr...

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) encompasses a group of enzymatic defects in cortisol biosynthesis resulting in adrenal hyperplasia through chronic compensatory ACTH stimulation. Aldosterone synthase deficiency, however, is associated with normal cortisol secretion and there are no reports on whether it may be associated with adrenocortical hyperplasia.Case Presentation: A 37-year-old, Greek female was referred for further investigation...

Acromegaly is a rare disease that leads to considerable morbidity and mortality, both reversible by adequate control of the disease. However, patients that could be adequately controlled confront delays in achieving treatment targets. The aim of the present study was to estimate the time to disease control after diagnosis and the reason leading to control delays. We retrospectively studied 119 acromegalic patients (aged 46.4±12.5; 71 females). Following appropriate treatm...

Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Endogenous hypercortisolism leads to increased morbidity and mortality. As Cushing’s disease (CD) is a rare disorder, data on co-morbidities outcome after current treatment interventions are scarce.We studied 78 patients with CD (67 females, 11 males, mean age 42.2±1.4 years), with a follow up of 90.8±7.8 months. All patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS...

Primary aldosteronism is diagnosed with increasing frequency, especially between patients with hypertension. Thus, a reliable screening test is necessary to avoid costly and demanding diagnostic procedures to this population. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of aldosterone to renine ratio (A/R) in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with hypertension with or without adrenal insidentaloma.A total of 115 subjects were studied: 13 patients wi...

Purpose: HPA axis activation resulting in increased cortisol production by the adrenals is a crucial part of the response to critical illness. The action of cortisol may also be modulated at the tissue level, through changes in the availability of the free fraction and modifications of the glucocorticoid receptor activity. It has been proposed that tissue resistance to glucocorticoids may occur, at least in some patients, and relate to insufficient anti-inflammatory activity a...

Background: In patients with adrenal nodules increased 17-OH Progesterone (17-OHP) does not necessarily indicate congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) since adrenocortical tumors may harbor defects in steroidogenesis resulting in high steroid precursors, either basally or, usually, after Synacthen stimulation. Secretion of precursors has been associated with malignancy but it can also be present in benign adenomas.Case Presentation: A 62-year-old lady wit...

Background: ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is mostly associated with corticotroph adenomas or, infrequently, ectopic ACTH secretion(EAS). Adrenals may show diffuse bilateral enlargement or even macronodules. Adrenal metastases may occur in various cancers. They are often bilateral, irregular, with attenuation values >20 Hounsfield units(HU) on unenhanced CT scan and elevated SUVmax on FDG-PET scan. They may cause adrenal insufficiency due to the destruction of...