Endocrine Abstracts

To investigate the blood pressure profile (BP) in active acromegaly and the effect of medical treatment of acromegaly on BP circadian rhythm, we studied 21 acromegalics before and after 3–60 months of treatment with somatostatin analogs (15/21) or pegvisomant (5/21) or both (5/21). Ambulatory 24-h BP was recorded. The 24-h mean BP (MBP), the mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), the day-time (day) and night-time (night) MBP, SBP and DBP and the 24-h mean heart ra...

Introduction: Type 2 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is a form of destructive thyroiditis, commonly responsive to glucocorticoids. On the contrary, type 1 AIT is an iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, occurring in patients with underlying thyroid disease often responding to thionamides.Aim of the study: To compare the effectiveness of methimazole (MMI) or prednisone (GLU) in the treatment of AIT patients with multinodular goiter with biochemical feat...

Amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may develop in patients with either underlying thyroid disorders (type 1) or normal gland (type 2). The latter is considered a drug-induced destructive thyroditis, usually responding to glucocorticoids. Further treatments after restoring euthyroidism are often not necessary. The former is a true form of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism the management of which includes thionamides, potassium perchlorate and thyrodectomy. The prevalence of t...

Introduction: AIT develops in 15–20% of patients receiving amiodarone. Patients with persistent thyrotoxicosis or those with instable cardiac function, may be candidate for thyroidectomy; however, thyrotoxicosis and underlying cardiovascular disease may increased surgical risk.Matherials and methods: We retrospectively selected 23 AIT patients treated with a total thyroidectomy, from January 2000 to December 2010 [19 men, 4 women; mean (+SD), age 61...

Thyroid hormone resistance (THR) and pituitary TSH-secreting adenomas (TSHoma) are both characterised by increased serum free thyroid hormone levels and normal TSH concentrations. Differentiation of the two syndromes is a clinical challenge, and relies on the suppression (TRH) or lack of suppression (TSHoma) of TSH-dependent parameters and on the presence of germinal mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta 1 gene in patients with THR. Thyroid blood flow, evaluated using...

Introduction: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental pollutants that modulate endocrine functions, induce tumorigenesis, and regulate apoptosis in several tissues; however, their effects on the apoptosis of pituitary cells is unknown.The aim of this study was to evaluate the PCBs influence on the apoptosis of normal pituitary cells and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved.Methods: Primary cell cultures from mouse...

Context: Acromegalic patients have a high-risk cardiovascular profile. However, the determinants of cardiovascular risk factors and major cardiovascular events (MACE), which may develop after diagnosis of acromegaly, are not fully understood.Objectives: To identify the predictors for systemic comorbidities and MACE, after diagnosis of disease. The role of therapy for acromegaly on the occurrence of such complications was also evaluated.<p class="abst...