Endocrine Abstracts

Up-to-date dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) offers an insight into body composition (fat and lean mass) in different body regions.Objectives: To measure the regional fat and lean mass in women of different age and to describe age-related changes.Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty women referred for DXA participated in the whole body (WB) study – age range was 20–75 yrs. They were subdivided in three age gr...

Current issues relating to pituitary incidentalomas include definitional limits, difficulties in their diagnosis resulting in hidden dangers, unknown pathogeny and management based on expectation. The prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas depends on the method of investigation: 3.2–27% in necroptic studies or 10–23% by imaging (MRI or CT), compared to only 0.1% clinically expressed pituitary adenomas. Diagnosis requires at least imaging and hormonal assays. However,...

Background: The incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is higher in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients than in the general population. However, it is still unclear if MetS is qualitatively different in PCOS.Aim: To compare the distribution of MetS diagnostic criteria and of insulin-resistance in subjects with MetS (PCOS versus matched controls).Patients: Of 97 patients with PCOS (Rotterdam criteria) and 31 age- and BMI-match...

Aims: GH deficiency (GHD) is associated with increased cardiovascular events. We aimed to evaluate cardiac, arterial, and endothelial function, by conventional and 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and biomarkers (proBNP and troponin I), in GHD patients by comparison with normal individuals with similar cardiovascular risk profile.The study included 52 GHD patients (46.9±15.6, 36 males), free of cardiovascular disease, severe hypertension ...

Introduction: Thyrotropinomas are rare pituitary tumours. Neurosurgery is considered the first-line treatment, followed by medical therapy with somatostatin analogues or radiotherapy.Case reports: We present two cases of thyrotropinomas with different therapeutic approaches. Case 1: A 63-year old man presented with severe thyrotoxicosis. Biochemical evaluation showed inappropriate TSH secretion (TSH=7.5 mU/l, FT4=45.5 pmol/l); computed tomogra...

Background: Few cases of hypersensitivity of thyroid–pituitary feedback in hypothyroid children were reported.Aim: To present a family with asymptomatic, severe biochemical primary autoimmune hypothyroidism who showed a marked sensitivity of pituitary feedback to levothyroxine treatment.Methods: TSH was measured by 3rd generation immunoassay kit.Case report: R.G, woman, aged 22, presented for asymptomati...

Purpose: GH deficiency (GHD) is associated with increased cardiovascular events, however, the detailed mechanisms have not been assessed yet extensively. We set up this study in order to evaluate cardiac, arterial, and endothelial function, by conventional echo, TDI, and biomarkers (proBNP and troponin I), in GHD patients by comparison with normal individuals with similar cardiovascular risk factors profile.Methods: Thirty GHD patients (46±14 years,...

Introduction: Parasellar extension of macroprolactinomas defined on imaging criteria was reported to be an independent predictor of hormonal resistance to dopamine agonists (DA).Methods: Two hundred and twelve patients with macroprolactinomas (87 M/125 F), treated with DA for 5 years median period; prolactin (fluoroimmunoassay or chemiluminescence), CT scan and/or MRI with contrast agents were performed; maximum diameter evolution was reported.<p cla...

Introduction: The combined influence of risk factors on osteoporosis being known, the problem whether it is correctly identified and quantified arises, aiming to the improvement of populational screening. The correct judgment related to osteoporotic pathology refers to fracture risk assessment.Materials and methods: We investigated 2149 women aged 20–91, without treatment for osteoporosis, for anthropometric, anamnestic and bone densitometry feature...

Growing interest in the role of vitamin D in many disease conditions as well as wide availability of vitamin D assays has led to a marked increase in its measurement. Although there are multiple circulating metabolites of vitamin D, those of interest are 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 and measurements of their relative concentrations is considered helpful. We reviewed vitamin D levels (D2 and D3) obtained on our patient population visiting a large teaching hospital.<p class="...