Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome is based on clinical suspicion and biochemical confirmation. Most cases are caused by an ACTH secreting pituitary microadenoma. In its severe form and when untreated, Cushing’s syndrome is associated with high mortality. We report a case of untreated Cushing’s syndrome due to pituitary microadenoma 8 years after the earlier manifestations.Observation: A 21-years-old woman was referred for pro...

We studied 84 patients with neuropsychological disabilities at least 1 year after TBI. 24 patients had severe GHD (29%). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of six months GH treatment on quality of life and metabolism in this group.GH treatment was initiated in 17 patients (71%), planned with 3, declined by one, contra-indicated in 2, 1 patient moved. It lasted more 6 months in 16 of them (14 men, mean age 36±12, mean delay after TBI 7...

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of pituitary dysfunction in patients keeping neuropsychological disabilities long after TBI (at least 1 year), to research predictive factors and to evaluate consequences of endocrine abnormalities on metabolism and quality of life in these patients.We studied 50 patients (42 men, mean age 36, range 20–59 years, mean BMI 25, range 17–42 kg/m2) who had survived severe (n=3...

Approximately 70% of clinical laboratories in the United Kingdom use assays from Abbott Laboratories and Roche Diagnostics. We carried out a cross-sectional study between two neighbouring hospital laboratories in our regional pathology network, comparing the potential impact of Abbott and Roche PTH and calcium assays in the diagnosis of normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism. Over 4 months, forty-one vitamin D replete (>50 nmol/l) normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism patients (3...

Background and objective: Addison’s disease occurs more frequently in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as part of the autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes. There is, however, no such association between adrenal failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We, therefore, retrospectively audited referrals for short synacthen tests (SST) on patients with T2DM.Methodology: Seven years retrospective study of indications for and results of SST ...

Objective: To compare FreeStyle Libre Glucose management indicator (GMI) with HbA1c and fructosamine and assess factors related to the difference.Methods: Persons with type 1 diabetes on FreeStyle Libre from a single diabetes centre whose sensor was active >70% of the time were included. Baseline characteristics, latest HbA1c, fructosamine, full blood count, total protein and albumin were collected from medical records. Ambulatory glucose profile dat...

Aim: If ‘0’minute salivary cortisol (SALCORT_0) or cortisone (SALCONE_0) can predict normal post-synacthen cortisol response.Method: Baseline salivary sample was collected for 110 patients who had short synacthen test (SST) between 09:00 and 10:00 after hydrocortisone withdrawal for at least 24-hour. SST was labelled ‘pass’ if 30-minute serum cortisol was >450 nmol/l. Serum cortisol was measured by immunoassay whereas salivary cor...

Background: Urinary catecholamine measurement has been the mainstay for diagnosis of a phaeochromocytoma. Plasma metanephrine estimation has been introduced more recently although its precise position remains unclear. We have undertaken a retrospective analysis of patients who have undergone this test to assess its usefulness in the diagnostic process.Patients and methods: We evaluated all patients who have had plasma metanephrine estimation over the pas...

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is endoproteolysed to ACTH and alpha MSH which bind to the melanocortin-1 receptor, (MC-1R), and act as principal mediators of human skin pigmentation. In addition there is increasing evidence that alpha MSH has important anti-inflammatory actions in the skin. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of processing and the involvement of the different peptides in melanogenesis. To address this question we utilized specific two-site immun...

Background: The diagnosis of male hypogonadism can be difficult. Free testosterone is calculated if total testosterone is close to the lower limit of normal, however, this is inaccurate in conditions that alter sex-hormone-binding globulin. Alternatively, salivary testosterone is thought to reflect free testosterone, but is present at low concentrations, thus requiring sensitive mass spectrometry instrumentation, and there is limited data on the pre-analytical...