Endocrine Abstracts

Generous glucocorticoid (GC) replacement following pituitary or adrenal surgery for Cushing’s can result in persistent suppression of the pituitary corticotrophs, evidenced by poor short synacthen test (SST) responses. Dose reduction can result in increased fatigue so patients tend to prefer to remain on higher doses. Long-term GC therapy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We present two cases where GC therapy was successfully weaned through a gradual t...

Background: Adrenal Insufficiency (AI) is a life-threatening disorder caused by dysfunction of the adrenal axis (primary AI) or of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (secondary AI). Both result in glucocorticoid deficiency, requiring life-long replacement, with additional mineralocorticoid replacement required in primary AI. However, accurately reproducing the endogenous circadian and ultradian rhythm of cortisol secretion is challenging. Current Endocrin...

A 65 year old patient who was hospitalised for a reactive arthritis of the knee due to Rickettsia infection, presented an asymptomatic persistant chronic hypocalcemia and hyperphosphoremia. In her medical history, we noted a hypertension treated with amlodipine and bisoprolol, syndrome of sleep apnoea, acquired lumbar spinal canal stenosis and sequelae of poliomyelitis acquired at 10 years of age in Congo, her place of origin. According to her blood test results, total calcium...

Introduction: Researchers argue that increased morbidity is noted in pregnant women during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Reports indicate that the pandemic has led to disruptions in care of persons with diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin A1c (A1c) is not sufficient in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) but may be of use in monitoring glycemia in GDM. To the best of our knowledge no studies honed on late pregnancy glycemia (via A1c), as a surrogate of the access/qual...

Background: Correct identification of patients with HPA axis dysfunction following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery is important. Our centre measures post-operative day 5 0900 h serum cortisol (24 h after the last dose of glucocorticoid) to identify the need for glucocorticoid replacement. This is given if post-operative day 5 0900 h cortisol concentration is <300 nmol/l, until dynamic pituitary function assessment occurs.Methods: Data were reviewe...

Background: Kisspeptin stimulates hypothalamic GnRH secretion resulting in gonadotrophin release and has the potential as a future therapeutic for infertility. Previous studies have observed that kisspeptin increases LH and to a lesser degree FSH when administered to healthy women, which may limit its therapeutic potential. However, studies in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea show that i.v. infusions of kisspeptin-54 stimulated both LH and FSH equally. Chronic s.c. infusion...

Introduction: Vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy are measured to diagnose states of insufficiency or deficiency. The aim of this study is to apply accurate assays of vitamin D forms (single hydroxylated (25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3), double-hydroxylated (1α,25(OH)2D2, 1α,25(OH)2D3), epimers (3-epi-25(OH)D2, 3-epi-25(OH)D3)) in mothers (serum) and neonates (umbilical cord) i) to expl...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem multifactorial autoimmune disorder. The survival of SLE patients has been improved by the administration of immunomodulatory therapy. Patients, however, are affected by late onset complications of the disease such as atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein Lp(a) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.The aim was to study Lp(a) levels and their relationship with disease activity in SLE patien...

Epidemiological studies indicate that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have increased mortality. Cardiovascular disease seems to be one of the major causes of death in patients with RA. Lipoprotein disorders are observed in patients with systemic autoimmune disorders as well as in patients with RA. Lipoprotein Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.The aim of the study was estimate lipoprotein Lp(a) levels and...

Background: The presence of secondary tumors to the thyroid is well known, although a rare entity (0.5–1.2%). The simultaneous appearance of papillary carcinoma and metastasis from hip osteosarcoma has never been reported.Case presentation: The patient is a 60 year old female who presented with a suspicious left thyroid nodule and a long history of osteosarcoma. The preoperative FNA of the left thyroid nodule was consistent with papillary malignancy...