Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Recent studies report the presence of KLK3 in women serum, KLK3 is excreted by Skene glands, it is involved in the production of cervical-vaginal fluid (CVF). Activation of KLK3 is pH depending, it has been hypothesized to have antimicrobial, immuno-regulator activity and vaginal and cervical epithelial desquamation. We intend to verify if KLK3 is present in female serum, in which menstrual cycle phases KLK3 ...

Primary amenorrhea is a rare disease that affects <1% of adolescent girls. The most common causes of primary amenorrhea include chromosomal abnormalities, hypothalamic and pituitary disorders, lack or structural abnormality of reproductive organs.18 years old woman was referred to us by her pediatric physician for evaluation of primary amenorrhea and hirsutism. She had low birth weight, 1.9 kg, and hypostaturism. At the age of 6 years underwent to cl...

Background: Hirsutism is a major feature of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the only accepted clinical sign of hyperandrogenism for its diagnosis, according to the androgen excess society (AES) recommendations. Previous studies demonstrated that hirsutism can be influenced by factors other than hyperandrogenism per se.Aim: To detect factors influencing hirsutism severity in PCOS.Patients and methods: Hundred and sev...

Introduction: Several cross-sectional studies evidence the association between hypovitaminosis D, obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cohorts, although the role of obesity per se is still debatable. Increased leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (L/A) and low-grade chronic inflammation markers, both due to accumulation of dysfunctional adipocytes, have been recently reported in PCOS. Aim of our study was to investigate the relative roles of obe...

Hirsutism, development of terminal body hair in women in unexpected areas, may result from different etiologies; 4.3% being nonclassical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) and acromegaly being one of the rarests. We here present a severe hirsutism case with acromegaly and NCCAH.Case: A 30-year-old woman with headache and visual field abnormalities was consultated by our clinic about her cranial imaging revealing a macroadenoma in pituitary localizati...

A 54-year-old Afro–Carribean woman developed worsening obesity, hypertension, and proximal muscle weakness. Clinical examination revealed cushingoid facies, truncal obesity (BMI 34.8), abdominal striae and a BP of 150/90, Ferriman–Gallway score 12.Investigations:- FBG 10.7 mmol/l, 24 urine cortisols 147 mmol/l, 207 mmol/l (NR 25–280 nmol/24 h), normal short synacthen test (cortisol 471 rising to 1002 nmol/l). Subsequent testing revealed a ...

Androgen excess is a key feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Pre-receptor regulation contributes to this with increased activation of testosterone (T) to 5α-dihydrotesterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase type 1 (SRD5A1), as we have shown previously in PCOS (Lancet 1990,335:431; JCE&M 2003,88:2760). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are easily accessible and a useful model for studying pre-receptor regulation in the immune compartment. We have previous...

Introduction: Metyrapone blocks cortisol production by inhibiting 11ß-hydroxylation of 11-deoxycortisol, the last step of cortisol synthesis. Based on observational retrospective studies published over more than 50 years metyrapone is approved for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in 14 European countries. PROMPT is the first prospective study to document the safety and efficacy of metyrapone using modern assay techniques.Desi...

Introduction: Hyperandrogenism is an uncommon finding in postmenopausal women. Possible sources of the elevated androgen levels include Cushing’s syndrome, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, benign and malignant androgen secreting ovarian tumors, ovarian hyperthecosis, adrenocortical tumours and iatrogenic hirsuitism.Case: A 65 year-old lady was referred with a raised testosterone level of 2.6 nmol/l [0–1.8 nmol/l]. She experienced weight gain and fa...

Background: Leydig cell ovarian tumors (LCOT) represent a rare type of sex-cord stromal tumors accounting for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. (1) Although rarely described in young, LCOT most commonly occur in postmenopausal women (2). The prominent clinical features of LCOT are rapidly progressive virilization, recently described, secondary erythrocytosis and OSA (3). Suppressed plasma leptin has also been reported in patients with LCOT (4), however direct correlation o...