Endocrine Abstracts

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are benign tumours not associated with clinical manifestations of hormonal hypersecretion. Based on population studies, their prevalence ranges between 7 and 41 per 100,000 people with the number of incidentally detected NFPAs increasing over the last decades. They cause clinical manifestations when they are large enough to exert pressure effects to surrounding structures. The initial management of non-apoplectic NFPAs depends mainly ...

We have audited control of acromegaly in a specialist endocrine unit in Oxford now that this should usually obtainable. We have 240 patients under active surveillance, seen annually since diagnosis. Data from 115 of these seen in the last year have been used for this analysis.Methods: We grouped patients according to whether they were controlled in either or both IGF1 and GH or uncontrolled. Controlled IGF1 was defined according to age and sex and GH was...

Introduction: Ipilimumab (Yervoy, BMS) is a human monoclonal antibody increasingly used in oncology. It targets cytotoxic T lymphocytes antigen 4 (CTLA-4) promoting their proliferation and augmenting an anti-tumour response. It is licensed for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma and multiple clinical trials using this medication for other malignancies are ongoing. Ipilimumab related adverse reactions are mainly autoimmune and occur in 61% of patients, of which...

Background: Patients with macroprolactinoma often present with pituitary hormone deficits associated with hyperprolactinaemia or mass effect. Restoration of normoprolactinaemia and tumour shrinkage by dopamine agonist is expected to reverse, at least partially, the pituitary dysfunction. Studies assessing prospectively the pituitary function in subjects with macroprolactinoma treated with cabergoline are lacking.Aim: To check the time course of recovery ...

We present the case of a 62 year old gentleman who was diagnosed with Acromegaly in 1998.He commenced testosterone replacement therapy in the form of Sustanon every three weeks in October 2000 following a testosterone level of 6.6 nmol/l.PSA levels during treatment with Sustanon were: 01/03/01–5.1μg/l.06/04/01–4.9 μg/l at which point he was referred for a urological opinion.<p class="a...

Introduction: The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) requires a screening test of high sensitivity, followed by biochemical evaluation aiming to identify the aetiology of hypercortisolism. The high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) with the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test is commonly used for the differential diagnosis of ACTH-depended Cushing’s syndrome. However, the diagnostic utility of the HDDST has been questioned.Ai...

Background: A variety of preparations for testosterone replacement therapy are currently available. Testogel, a transdermal gel, is widely used and considered one of the most convenient. However, a wide variation in the increment of serum testosterone two hours after its application has been reported.Aim: To investigate whether skin thickness affects the absorption of testogel.Subjects and methods: Fourteen patients (mean age 55.4 ...

Background: Pituitary adenomas (PA) are considered very rare conditions, with an estimated prevalence of 25 cases/100 000 inhabitants. However, community-based studies on the prevalence of PA are currently scant.Aim: To ascertain the prevalence of PA and the characteristics of the patients diagnosed with them in a large population of inhabitants.Methods: A survey on the GP surgeries of Banbury (Oxfordshire, UK) covering 89 334 inha...

Background: Pituitary adenomas (PA) have traditionally been considered as very rare conditions, with an estimated prevalence of 25 cases/100 000 inhabitants. However, these data have been extracted either from cancer registries or from hospital databases and therefore, may not be accurate.Aim: To ascertain the prevalence of PA and the characteristics of the patients diagnosed with them in a large population of inhabitants.Methods: ...

Background: Testosterone replacement therapy is available in a variety of preparations. Nebido, a long acting testosterone undecanoate injection offered at 3 monthly intervals, has recently become available thus reducing the need for frequent injections.Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Nebido.Patients and methods: Eighteen patients aged between 22–77 years (median 44.5 years) with primary or secondary hypogonadis...