Endocrine Abstracts

Subject: Inhibitors of CYP11B enzymes, particularly of aldosterone synthase, are currently under development as adrenostatic agents in heart failure or hyperaldosteronism, and for use in adrenal imaging. As CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 show high homology, analysis of specific binding to the respective human enzymes is of key importance.Methods: Y1 cell lines stably expressing hsCYP11B1 or hsCYP11B2 were established. Primary cultures of porcine and human adrenocor...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). No data is available on the effect of different therapeutical regimes (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortisone acetate) on the quality of life in these patients.Methods: About 883 patients with adrenal insufficiency were contacted, 526 patients participated (60%) and received a disease specific questionnaire and three sta...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with adrenal insufficiency. No data is available on the effect of twice or thrice daily administration of hydrocortisone on the quality of life in these patients.Methods: About 883 patients with adrenal insufficiency were contacted, 526 patients participated (60%) and received a disease specific questionnaire and three standardized questionnaires (SF36, ...

Adrenal crisis (AC) is a rare but life-threatening complication in chronic adrenal failure. Here we evaluated frequency, causes and potential risk factors of AC in a large sample of patients with primary AI (PAI) or secondary AI (SAI).In a cross-sectional study 883 patients with AI were contacted by mail. 526 patients agreed to participate and received a disease specific questionnaire. Diagnoses and co-morbidities were verified by review of medical recor...

Objective: Isolated ACTH-deficiency (IAD) is considered a rare autoimmune endocrinopathy most frequently associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATD). We have previously diagnosed IAD in four patients with primary hypothyroidism and negative TPO antibodies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed IAD in patients with ATD.Methods: We studied 45 patients with ATD on stable L-thyroxine replacement (dose range...

Objective: There is evidence that current replacement regimens fail to restore well-being in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI). No data is available on the effect of different therapeutical regimes (hydrocortisone, prednisolone and cortisone acetate) on the quality of life in these patients.Methods: Eight hundred and eighty three patients with adrenal insufficiency were contacted, 526 patients participated (60%) and received a disease specific que...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy with incompletely understood pathogenesis and poor prognosis. Recent data from the German ACC Registry (n=377) demonstrate an overall 5-year survival of 46%. Survival is clearly stage-dependent (P<0.01) with a 5-year survival of 85% in stage 1, 56% in stage 2, 42% in stage 3, and 16% in stage 4, respectively.In stages I –III open surgery by an expert surgeon aimi...

Objective: Local tumor recurrence is common in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and the most frequent cause for re-operation. Therefore, a concept for an adjuvant treatment is urgently needed. The role of radiotherapy in ACC has not been well defined and many authors have considered radiotherapy as ineffective. However, two studies with a small number of patients (n=3 and n=4, resp.) have suggested adjuvant radiation as an effective treatment to prevent recurrence ...

A recent study has reported impaired subjective health status (SHS) in 79 patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) despite routine steroid replacement1. Here we have performed a survey in a large cohort of patients with primary and secondary AI. 348 patients (148 outpatients and 200 registered participants of the self-help network for adrenal and pituitary diseases) were contacted by mail. 256 (74%) agreed to participate and received a disease specific and 3...

Treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is still unsatisfactory. As IGF-II and IGF-I receptor are frequently overexpressed in human ACC and inhibitors of the IGF system are currently under preclinical investigation, interference with IGF-signaling might have an additive effect in antitumour treatment. We have therefore analyzed several cytotoxic agents (etoposide, doxorubicine, cisplatin, streptocozin; 0.01–100 μM) on adrenal cell proliferation in vitro an...