Endocrine Abstracts

Tumoural GH secretion in acromegaly is characterised by increased non-pulsatile (basal) release, pulse amplitude and pulse frequency. We have studied the effect of primary therapy with Sandostatin LAR on GH pulsatility in 9 patients with acromegaly who achieved disease control (mean serum GH<2ug/L) on therapy (7 males; median (range) age 67 (43-75). Data obtained were compared with 16 healthy subjects (10 males, age 50 (30-75)). Spontaneous 24-h GH secretion (20 minute samp...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in the activation of the matrix metalloproteinase system (MMP) which in turn degrades the extracellular matrix involved in development, morphogenesis and tissue remodelling. Increased activity of MMPs has been implicated in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This study assessed plasma MMP and VEGF levels in patients with active acromegaly (IGF-I >130%ULN), and on treatment with pegvisomant.<p class="abstext"...

Patients with acromegaly treated with medical therapy intermittently discontinue therapy to allow assessment of underlying disease activity. This is particularly so in patients treated with pituitary irradiation. Typical 'washout' times include 5 weeks for bromocriptine and 2 weeks for short-acting sc octreotide; longer periods are required for cabergoline and slow-release somatostatin analogues. Pegvisomant is a novel medical therapy for acromegaly that functions as a GH rece...

Background: Pubertal progression is inhibited in central precocious puberty with the use of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. They are usually given every 10 to 12 weeks via an intramuscular depot, but more recently, a 6-monthly preparation has become available for clinical use.Aim: The aim of this project was to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of 6-monthly triptorelin, a GnRH analogue, at a tertiary children’s hospital.<p...

Section 1: Case history: A 38 year old female was identified as carrying a heterozygous pathogenic MEN1 variant (c.13404delG) through predictive testing, following a diagnosis of familial hyperparathyroidism.Section 2: Investigations: Routine screening for hyperparathyroidism and pituitary disease was negative. However, a CT thorax–abdomen–pelvis revealed a 41 mm pancreatic tail mass. Biopsy via endoscopic ultrasound confirmed a well-d...

A 38 year old female was identified as carrying a heterozygous pathogenic MEN1 variant (c.13404delG) through predictive testing, following a diagnosis of familial hyperparathyroidism. Routine screening for hyperparathyroidism and pituitary disease was negative. However, a CT thorax-abdomen-pelvis revealed a 41 mm pancreatic tail mass. Biopsy via endoscopic ultrasound confirmed a well-differentiated (grade 1) pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (pNET) with MIB1<1%. Bi...

Objectives: We aimed to develop a registry for the rare genetic diseases Wolfram (WS), Alstrom (AS), Bardet Biedl (BBS) and other diabetes syndromes, containing clinical, genetic diagnostic and outcome data. The purpose is to establish the natural history of these diseases; to assess clinical management; to characterize cohorts for future clinical trials; and to establish genotype phenotype relations. This abstract describes the first 50 patients recruited.<p class="abstex...

The rise in the prevalence of obesity has imparted urgency to the study of the mechanisms of appetite regulation. Oxyntomodulin (OXM) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are anorexigenic gut hormones thought to act via the same receptor. There is an increasing body of evidence, however, that they may act via distinct pathways. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used as a tool for tracking changes in neuronal activity in vivo through time. Manganese-e...

Background: Children and young people living with severe obesity experience wide ranging complications of excess weight (CEW), however their prevalence is not well defined. We have evaluated baseline clinical characteristics and complications in two multi-disciplinary tier-3 paediatric weight management services in different regions of the UK.Methods: All new patients (n=185) aged 2–17 years seen in a 12-mo...

Introduction: NCMP (National Childhood Measurement Programme) data has highlighted a higher prevalence of childhood obesity in highly deprived areas, however the prevalence of complications from excess weight (CEW) in relation to social deprivation has not been previously reported. The aim of this study is to compare the demographic data along with CEW in children and young people (CYP) with obesity being managed at two different centres in the UK, with a very...