Endocrine Abstracts

Autoimmune hypoadrenalism (Addison’s disease) is a relatively rare condition; recent research has found the European prevalence to be up to 140 per million [Lovas & Husebye 2002]. It frequently occurs in association with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, both endocrine and non-endocrine. Previous studies identified a considerable range in the prevalence of associated conditions and, because of the rarity of the disease, were often drawn from relatively small s...

Bone loss in treated Addison’s disease (autoimmune hypoadrenalism) is often attributed to supraphysiological doses of glucocorticoid. The largest international survey to date (N=613) suggests that other factors are also likely to be associated with bone loss in these patients and that an intrinsic risk of bone loss in autoimmune hypoadrenalism cannot be ruled out. This survey also found significant rates of osteoarthritis among autoimmune hypoadrenalism patients. 1...

Addison’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose and has been labelled ‘the master of unforgiving disguise’. In the largest international survey of autoimmune Addison’s disease to date (N=613), we asked patients to recall their symptoms at diagnosis. The results confirm the challenges of diagnosis, in that no patients recalled all the standard symptoms.Hyperpigmentation with dizziness on standing/blackouts and weight loss...

With the right balance of daily medication, individuals with adrenal insufficiency can expect to have a normal life span and to lead busy and rewarding lives. Despite this, research finds that people with adrenal insufficiency often feel below par compared to healthy individuals.(1)(2) One recent study found that the rate of hospital admission for adrenal crisis is almost three times higher for women with autoimmune adrenalitis than it is for patients with secondary adrenal in...

Hyperthyroid cats have elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations and suppressed fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) concentrations, both of which normalise following treatment of hyperthyroidism. PTH, FGF-23, and thyroid hormone can influence the renal reabsorption of calcium and phosphate. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of hyperthyroidism on renal tubular function in cats indirectly, by comparing the FE of electrolytes in hyperthyroid cats w...

Patients with chronic adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s) have mildly but significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular, malignant, and infectious diseases, predominantly pneumonia (Bergthorsdottir et al. 2006). Death from adrenal crisis is rare and largely preventable, but life-threatening adrenal crisis is a regular event in treated Addison’s with a previously reported annual incidence of 8% in the UK.We analysed the frequency of...

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate treatment with high glucocorticoid doses. In diagnosed Addison’s disease between 3.8% and 29% of patients are estimated to need emergency hospital treatment per annum (Arlt & Allolio, 2003; Fleming & Ostergaard Kristensen, 1999).In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey of diagnosed Addison’s patients to date (N=868), enquiring about the causes and fre...

Autoimmune hypoadrenalism (Addison’s disease) is a rare condition with a European prevalence of up to 140 per million1. It frequently occurs in association with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, both endocrine and non-endocrine. These conditions are recognised to occur in the extended family, but their prevalence has been hard to determine, because of the rarity of the disease.In 2003 we conducted the largest international survey ...

Cats are the only species, other than humans, in which naturally occurring, non-malignant hyperthyroidism has been recorded. Feline hyperthyroidism has many similarities to toxic nodular goitre, including age at risk, presentation, histological features and similar ‘switch-on’ mutations of the TSH receptor and linked G-proteins. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is well recognised in humans but has only recently been described in cats. We present preliminary data from a pr...

Primary adrenal insufficiency is a relatively rare endocrine condition requiring life-long glucocorticoid and mineralcorticoid replacement therapy. Unlike other endocrine conditions - such as diabetes - complications associated with early mortality are unusual and well-medicated patients can expect to have a normal life span. Nevertheless, patients typically report a variety of symptoms which reduce their quality of life.Data from an international survey...