Endocrine Abstracts

The optimum management of patients with craniopharyngiomas is controversial. Evidence relies on a small number of retrospective outcome surveys that encompass time periods that are not necessarily representative of current surgical techniques and imaging modalities. We have reviewed outcome in a more contemporary group of patients managed at a single centre.Case-notes and electronic data were reviewed of all patients treated for craniopharyngioma since 1...

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in the pattern of presentation to Emergency Departments. This prompted concern within Paediatrics that this altered behaviour could lead to delays in the diagnosis of life-threatening conditions such as type 1 diabetes. A multicentre study was conducted to determine the incidence, referral patterns and severity of disease at presentation of this condition. Methods: This was a U.K.-based multi-centre ...

A 44-year-old gentleman presented to the Emergency Department with a 2-week history of fevers and rigors. Past medical history was unremarkable other than an earlier diagnosis of hypertension. He was noted to have new onset atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, and a new diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was made on echocardiography. In addition, a vegetation was identified on the mitral valve. Treatment for infective endocarditis (Stre...

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is reported to have effects on a number of hormone systems including glycaemic control, catecholamines, and the HPA axis. In this study we aimed to determine the impact of OSA on IGF-I levels.Patients & Methods: This is a prospective cohort study performed at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Patients were recruited from the Sleep Apnoea Clinic between November 2014 and May 2...

Introduction: B lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumour necrosis factor family, is essential for B cell activation, differentiation and survival. It promotes autoantibody production and as Graves’ disease is caused by thyroid stimulating autoantibodies, it is an excellent functional candidate gene. Indeed, elevated serum BAFF levels have been found in patients with several autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease (GD). The T al...

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is reported to have effects on a number of hormone systems including glycaemic control, catecholamines, and the HPA axis. In this study we aimed to determine the impact of OSA on IGF-I levels.Patients & Methods: This is a prospective cohort study performed at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Patients were recruited from the Sleep Apnoea Clinic between November 2014 and May 2...

Introduction: B lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumour necrosis factor family, is essential for B cell activation, differentiation and survival. It promotes autoantibody production and as Graves’ disease is caused by thyroid stimulating autoantibodies, it is an excellent functional candidate gene. Indeed, elevated serum BAFF levels have been found in patients with several autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease (GD). The T al...

Case history: A 44-year-old gentleman presented to A&E with a 2-week history of fevers and rigors. He gave a background history of hypertension. He was noted to have new onset atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, and a new diagnosis of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was made on echocardiography. A vegetation identified on the mitral valve led to an unexpected diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Antibiotic treatment for infective endocarditi...

Case history: An asymptomatic 26-year-old female was found to have hypercalcaemia with an associated normal PTH and vitamin D deficiency on blood tests in primary care. She was referred to the endocrinology clinic for further assessment. There was no history of renal calculi, constipation or fractures. The patient was taking the combined oral contraceptive pill only. There was a family history of hypercalcaemia, with an uncle affected in his 50s and a first cousin in his 20s. ...

Background: Autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is a rare endocrinopathy arising from a complex interplay between multiple genetic susceptibility polymorphisms and environmental factors. Several variants in immune pathways have been identified through hypothesis-driven candidate gene analysis, though these associations can prove difficult to replicate. The first genome wide association study (GWAS) with patients from Scandinavian Addison’s registries identified associ...