Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The MAB, alemtuzumab has been demonstrated to reduce the relapse and the risk of accumulation of sustained disability in multiple sclerosis when compared to β-interferon. The development of autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disease has been reported in the literature with a frequency of 15–25%.Methods: We reviewed the case notes of 39 patients with multiple sclerosis initiated on alemtuzumab in our hospital from 2006 to 2012 and...

A 28-year-old man of Asian origin presented with fever, cough and weight loss over 4 weeks. He had symptoms of worsening headaches and vomiting. The chest X-ray was normal and due to persistent headache and vomiting a lumbar puncture was performed following a normal CT head scan. The CSF findings confirmed the diagnosis of tubercular meningitis and the patient received a complete course of anti tubercular treatment. Six months later he was readmitted with visual blurring, a di...

We report two cases with initial presentation of sudden onset ophthalmoplegia in i) a patient recently diagnosed with breast carcinoma and ii) a patient subsequently diagnosed with carcinoma lung. The first patient (68 years) was referred to the tertiary endocrine unit with a 2 weeks history of visual loss associated with 3rd cranial nerve palsy in her right eye and with a temporal hemianopia in her left eye. MRI showed an enhancing sellar and suprasellar mass. Initial biochem...

A 46-year-old gentleman presented with a history of general lethargy, weight gain, limb weakness, easy bruising and severe back ache. Examination showed central obesity, proximal myopathy, with marked thinning and extensive bruising of the skin. His blood pressure and glycemic control were suboptimal and resistant to treatment. Routine blood tests including a chest X-ray were normal. An overnight dexamethasone suppression test showed failed serum cortisol suppression (749 nmol...

Background and aims: Subjects with primary (PAI) and secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI)/hypopituitarism have an increased cardiovascular mortality for reasons that are unclear. Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for increased cardiovascular mortality. We sought to measure arterial stiffness in subjects with AI and aimed to identify which factors might account for any increase observed.Methods: Ethical approval was obtained for this study...

A 67-year-old lady was admitted through her General Practitioner with a history of reduced oral intake & unresponsiveness. She was diagnosed to have an insulinoma in 2012 and has been on diazoxide 75 mg thrice daily as she was deemed to be unfit for any surgical intervention. On clinical examination, she was pyrexial, tachycardic, hypoxic and had an initial GCS of 3. She was noted to have shingles on her chest & right basal coarse crackles.On adm...

Background: PCOS is a metabolic disorder associated with long-term health risks including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Metformin improves insulin sensitivity in PCOS and reduces circulating concentrations of markers of endothelial dysfunction, although it is unclear whether this translates into improvements in vascular function.Objective: To determine whether metformin therapy improves arterial stiffness and endothelial function...

Background: Patients with Addison’s disease (AD) and hypopituitarism have increased mortality, mainly from vascular disease. Both diseases are characterised by DHEA(S) deficiency yet this is not usually corrected. It is unclear whether treatment of these conditions with DHEA improves vascular risk.Objective: To evaluate the effects of DHEA on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in subjects with AD and hypopituitarism.M...

Background: Women with epilepsy may be at risk of developing PCOS, but it is unclear whether this is due to the disease or sodium valproate (VPA) therapy. We sought to determine androgenic status and cardiometabolic risk in women taking VPA monotherapy and compared these with subjects taking lamotrigine and healthy controls.Methods: Patients with epilepsy (age 18–43) with no known vascular risk were divided into 3 groups: VPA monotherapy (n=1...

Aim: We have proposed to study the modulation of the Notch pathway in diabetes having in mind the essential role played by the Notch system in the regulation of cell differentiation and angiogenesis.Methods: The effect of hyperglycemia on Notch system was studied in vitro and in vivo using western blot, reporter gene assay or evaluation of target genes (qRT-PCR). The functional consequences of the Notch system modulation were studied by the...