Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Pituitary conditions have been found to have a significant impact on quality of life. As such it is important that patients have access to support services to ensure their ongoing physical and psychological needs are met. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with pituitary conditions who are members of the Pituitary Foundation to better understand how the Foundation supports their needs.<p class...

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterised by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) that primarily affects obese women of reproductive age. The aetiology is poorly understood but involves imbalance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion and absorption. IIH patients share similar phenotypic characteristics to PCOS patients, a condition with a distinct androgen signature. We hypothesise that obesity and androgen excess maybe...

Background: Monogenic obesity is generally considered to only be responsible for a small proportion of genetic obesity with the vast majority attributable to polygenic obesity. Previous studies estimate that monogenic obesity accounts for less than 5% of obesity in Caucasian populations.Aims and method: To identify prevalence and clinical characteristics of monogenic obesity, we reviewed clinical notes of 219 patients currently, or recently (within 24 mo...

Background: Nice guideline recommends using TSH receptor antibody as a tool for classification of hyperthyroid patients; and considering technetium scanning of the thyroid gland if TRAbs are negative. Early diagnosis of TED is also essential for treatment to be effective. The most common way to assess the severity of TED is to use the Clinical Activity Score (CAS) 7-point scale.Objectives: We aimed to evaluate if hyperthyroid patients are classified corr...

Introduction: Thyroid storm, a life-threatening endocrine emergency, requires prompt intervention and treatment to improve outcomes. The diagnosis is made clinically, based on symptoms including hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhoea and altered cognition. The Burch-Wartofsky (BW) score is a symptom-based score recommended to determine the likelihood of thyroid storm. This retrospective study aims to determine use of the BW scale and its effect on management.<p class...

Background: Adrenal crisis is a potentially life-threatening situation which can affect any patient with adrenal insufficiency (AI). Patients with AI and healthcare professionals looking after them should know the sick day rules and when and how to use parenteral hydrocortisone. Patient stories and feedback from patients with AI indicated low standards locally. We therefore aimed to empower patients through education and provide them with a hydrocortisone emergency kit.<p ...

Background: Advances in next-generation sequencing facilitate the simultaneous evaluation of large numbers of cancer predisposition genes (CPGs) in patients with cancer irrespective of family history or tumour phenotype. Several studies have reported the frequent occurrence of germline mutations in CPGs in patients with discordant cancer types raising the possibility of novel gene-cancer associations. The current study aimed to evaluate the significance of germline mutations i...

Introduction: Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSPS) may be required either as a treatment for endocrinopathies or because of the risk or consequence of pituitary lesion expansion into adjacent structures, in particular optic chiasm compression. Published literature recommends surgery is performed by dedicated experienced surgeons with anticipated complication rates available as a comparator.Methods: This retrospective audit included all patients diagn...

While the association between maternal nutrition and female reproductive fitness and offspring health is well recognised, the role that paternal diet plays in shaping male reproductive health is relatively poorly understood. It is, however, well established that poor diet has adverse effects on sperm quality, which in turn have a negative impact on embryo development and offspring health. It is conceivable that behind any alterations to sperm quality, there are certain underly...

Introduction: Lifestyle, exercise and diet vary hugely between summer and winter months population-wide. We compared diabetes control in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), during summer and winter months.Methods: All children under 18 years with T1D attending our diabetes clinics were eligible. Those diagnosed within one year, changed insulin regimen between seasons or with incomplete data were excluded. Summer or winter months were defined by British ...