Clinical biochemistry of endocrine disease Flashcards
Give an example of an endocrine disease
Diabetes
What % of diabetes patients have type 1?
8%
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Blood glucose
What colour blood bottle is used to hold blood for diabetes tests?
Grey tubes, Due to flouride inhibiting metabolism of the glucose
What is normal fasting plasma glucose?
> 7 mmol/L glucose
How does the glucose tolerance test work?
A patients fasting level is measured, Then they’re given 75g of glucose and remeasured after 2 hours. If the levels are still raised they are likely diabetic
What are the complications of diabetes?
Excessive insulin
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a system which uses negative feedback in order to control hormone production
Give an example of a thyroid disease
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Slowing of most metabolic processes
- Bradychardia, Weight gain, tiredness
What is elevated in hypothyroidism?
TSH
How is hypothyroidism treated?
Missing hormones are replaced
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Speeding up of most metabolic processes
- Tachycardia, Weight loss, tiredness
What is elevated during hyperthyroidism?
T4 & T3
What is the treatment for hyperthyroidism?
Remove oversecreting tumour
What is the function of cortisol in the body?
Maintains blood volume and stimulates gluconeogenesis
Where is cortisol secreted?
Within the adrenal cortex
Give some examples of diseases caused by disfunction of the adrenal cortex
- Addisons disease
- Cushings syndrome
- Acromegaly
- Hyperprolactinaemia
What is Addisons disease?
Failure/damage of adrenals resulting in insufficient corsitol production
What are the symptoms of Addisons disease?
Lethargy, pigmentation, abdominal pain
How does the short synacthen test work?
You give the patient a synthetic analogue of ACTH which should result in the production of cortisol. If no cortisol is produces after 30 mins there is a problem
What is Cushings syndrome?
Excessive production of cortisol
What are the symptoms of Cushings syndrome
Hypertension, Obesity, Thinning skin
What typically causes Cushings syndrome?
Usually a tumour on the adrenal gland causing over secretion
How do you diagnose Cushings syndrome?
Look at physical symptoms then measure ACTH
What type of tumour would a supressed ACTH show?
Adrenal gland tumour
What type of tumour would an elevated ACTH show?
Ectopic tumour
What is acromegaly?
Excessive growth hormone
What are the clinical features of acromegaly?
Corase facial features
Increase in shoe size
Excessive sweating
