Endocrine Abstracts

In mammals, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), produced by pituitary gonadotropes, is required for proper gonadal function and female fertility. The TGFβ superfamily members, activins, are critical regulators of FSH synthesis. Activins signal through heteromeric type I/type II receptor complexes and the effector proteins SMADs 2 and 3 to regulate gene transcription. Numerous studies in gonadotrope-like cell lines suggest that activin-stimulated FSH β subunit (Fshb) ...

Introduction: Pregnancy is characterized by increased secretion of estrogens and cortisol. Estrogen is used to prepare the maternal environment for the fetus. Cortisol induces a state of immunosuppression to avoid loss of the fetus, which, by definition, is at least partly a foreign organism. Parturition is characterized by estrogen and cortisol withdrawal. It leads to a rebound in immunity and may be accompanied by the development of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune thyroid dis...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism is nowadays frequently diagnosed due to routine blood calcium measured in the general biochemical profile. Primary hyperparathyroidism may be due to a parathyroid adenoma or parathyroid hyperplasia. Parathyroid adenoma may occur in the area of the parathyroid glands or may be ectopic.Aim: The aim was to describe the differential clinical expression of primary hyperparathyroidism due to an adenoma or hyperplasia i...

Introduction: Subclinical hyperthyroidism is a syndrome with vague clinical symptoms. It may cause tachycardia, loss of weight or no symptoms at all. Subclinical hyperthyroidism may occur in middle age and in the elderly. It may be related to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Subclinical hyperthyroidism may be the result of an autonomous goiter, may occur in the course of follow-up of hypothyroidism, as the needs for treatment may vary over time and substantially diminish...

Introduction: The management of schizophrenia involves drugs which inhibit domapine receptors. The drugs control the disease. However, they increase prolactin secretion and induce amenorrhea. The drugs induce the development of metabolic syndrome and as a result of obesity they may cause benign intracranial hypertension.Aim: The aim was to describe the case of a patient who developed schizophrenia and after therapy with antipsychotics benign intracranial...

Primary hyperaldosteronism may be due to an adrenal adenoma and is an increasingly recognized cause of secondary arterial hypertension. The disease causes hypokalemia and is usually treated surgically by excision of the adrenal adenoma. However, it appears that it may present with a clinical profile without arterial hypertension. The aim was to describe three cases of primary hyperaldosteronism who presented with hypokalemia and an adrenal adenoma with normal blood pressure. A...

Lithium is considered a mainstay treatment option for the management of bipolar affective disorder. However, lithium administration is characterized by endocrine effects. The aim was to present the case of a patient who was on treatment with lithium for many years for the management of bipolar affective disorder and presented with a large parathyroid adenoma causing clinical hyperparathyroidism with severe hypercalcemia who was successfully treated by surgical excision of the ...

Introduction: Leukopenia is a manifestation of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Leukopenia may be an early sign of autoimmunity and may be a comorbidity in patients with autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Aim: The aim was to present a cohort of 12 patients with autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who presented with leukopenia.Methods: A cohort of 12 patients, aged 19-72 y, female, with autoi...

Introduction: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is known to induce nodularity in the thyroid and in some cases to coexist with papillary thyroid carcinoma. However, the effect of the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis on the course of nodular goiter is not known.Aim: The aim was to describe the effect of the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in the course of nodular goiter.Methods: A cohort of 12 patients, female, age...

MEN (multiple endocrine neoplasia) I disease represents a compilation of multiple endocrine neoplasms affecting a patient in the course of a life-time. It thus represents a phenotype which has survived over many years. Pituitary neoplasms, lipomas and parathyroid hyperplasia are observed in the disease. The aim was to describe a patient with MEN I disease who presented with lipomas and acromegaly in his early adulthood and developed primary hyperparathyroidism in his senior ye...