Acromegaly/ Prolactinoma/ DI/ Ant hypopituitarism Flashcards
why can acromegaly be accompanied by amenorrhea and galactorrhea?
- GH stimulates the PRL receptor (they are both in the cytokine superfamily of JAK-STAT receptor pathways)
- the GH adenoma may cosecrete PRL
- the acromegalic tumor may push on pituitary stalk –> block DOPA –> loss of inhibition of PRL secretion
** increased PRL results in decreased gonadotropin release
what acts on PRL stimulation?
stimulated by TRH
inhibited by DOPA
(can also be stimulated by GH due to same JAK/STAT receptor)
What can cause carpal tunnel? specifically three endocrine causes?
see + Tinel’s sign
“median trap”
- **Myxedema (hypoTH)
- Edema
- **Diabetes
- Infiltration (sarcoid, fibrosis)
- Amyloid
- Neoplasms
- Trauma
- RA
- **Acromegaly
- Pregnancy
sx of acromegaly?
- increased hat/glove size
- increased sweating, weakness,
- amenorrhea and galactorrhea (high PRL levels)
- pain in low back, hips, knees
- Tinel’s sign (carpal tunnel)
- change in bite
- chest pain, dyspnea
- frontal bossing
- deep voice
- velvety ski (acanthosis nigricans), skin tags
- goiter
- tongue, hands, feet enlarged
which h/a are worse w/ coughing, assoc. w/ nausea and worse upon rising?
tension h/a –> sign of pituitary tumor causing mass effects
Cowden’s disease can be confused with acromegaly… why?
= multiple hamartoma syndrome
- mutation in PTEN tumor suppressor
- Trichelemmomas (neoplasms of hair follices), oral papillomatosis, umbilicated palmer papules (keratosis) - skin bumps
- increased hat size
- breast, thyroid, colon, and renal cell cancers
lab tests in acromegaly?
- elevated FBS >126 (due to elevated IGF-1)
Order:
- glucose
- elevated PRL
- BUN (if kidneys are dysfunctional, they can elevate IGF-1 on their own)
- AST,ALT (liver is responsible for some IGF secretion)
- Ca2+, P- (check for MEN1)
- T4, TSH (see if TSH is messed up)
- Cortisol (see if ACTH is involved)
- Uosm/Posm (normal is 1 to 3; <1 indicates possible DI)
- serum GH 2 hours post 75 mg glucose
which value of Uosm/Posm indicates DI?
normal is 1 to 3
if <1, can indicate DI
glucose suppression test? memorize the values
used for GH: administer 75 mg of glucose - would normally suppress GH - but see that GH doesn’t drop in pt. w/ acromegaly
** Administration of 75 g of glucose syrup in a patient with acromegaly will show:
inability to suppress GH to less than 1 ng/mL (10 mcg/mL) **
GH produces lipolysis that yields increased liver acetyl Co A and therefore increased gluconeogenesis, followed by increased conversion of lactate and glycerol to glucose. Also free fatty acids block glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells. (insulin blocks these effects of GH). Thus GH is a slow acting counter-regulatory hormone like cortisol.
when see GH secreting tumor, what do you need to check?
P-/Ca2+ levels
pituitary adenoma can be caused by MEN1 syndrome, which also causes
- hyperparthyroidism
- pancreatic neoplasms
causes of acromegaly?
- Microadenoma with somatotroph mutation*
- Macroadenoma
- Ectopic GH or GHRH production (carcinoid, pancreas, lung, ovary, breast, lymphoma)
- mutation of the alpha subunit of GTP-binding protein resulting in stimulatory Gs subunit
with increased cyclic AMP producing GH secretion
what can acromegaly be associated with?
- MEN 1 (hyperparthyroidism causing hypercalcemia, pancreatic cancer causing peptic ulcer/hypoglycemia, pituitary adenoma) ** know this **
- MuCune-Albright syndrome
- Carney complex
assoc. complications of GH secreting adenoma?
- Pressure effects (headache, visual alterations,etc)
- Additional hormone production (Prolactin production; TSH production, etc)
- Interference with other hormones (decreased ACTH, TSH, etc)
tx of GH secreting adenomas?
3 options:
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- drugs:
1. Dopamine agonists (Bromocryptine, Cabergoline)
2. SST analogues (Ocreotide, Lanreotide) * watch for gallstones
3. Pegvisomat (GHR antabonist) * watch for liver fn. abnormalities!
how do you determine where GH is coming from?
Before surgery to remove an adenoma, must do a GHRH assay
- If have oat cell carcinoma (small cell carcinoma): see elevated GHRH
- if have pituitary adenoma, GHRH will be supressed
long term follow up in cases of GH Adenomas? ** know this **
follow GH and IGF-1 levels and do a glucose load when suspicious (GH should suppress to <1)
Goals of treatment:
- GH level under 1 ng/mL
- Glucose-suppressed GH under 0.4 ng/mL
how does dopamine work to suppress PRL?
Dopa activates inhibitory G protein –> decreased cAMP –> decreases PRL secretion
sx of prolactinoma?
microadenoma:
- amenorrhea, galactorrhea, low back pain (increased PRL –> decreased GNRH and LH –> decreased estrogen = osteoporosis and amenorrhea)
- hirsutism, acne (decreased estrogen = decreased sex hormone binding globulin SHBG = increased free testosterone and DHEAS = hirsuitism and acne)
macroadenoma:
- vomiting, nausea
- bitemporal diplopia
how can hypothyroidism and kidney disease increase PRL levels?
- hypothyroidism –> increased TRH –> stimulates PRL –> hyperprolactinemia
- Kidney disease: decreased excretion of PRL –> increased level of PRL in blood
Endocrine causes of hyperPRL?
see amenorrhea and galactorrhea
- pituitary adenoma (disrupts dopamine inhibition, prolactinoma of cosecretes GH and PRL)
- hypothalamic disease: high levels of TRH –> stimulates PRL release
- hypothroidism: high levels of TRH –> stimulates PRL release
- pregnancy