Endo Flashcards
What are the symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia in women?
Amenorrhea, galactorrhea, infertility, [compression symptoms]
What are the symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia in men?
Hypogonadism, reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, gynaecomastia, galactorrhea [compression symptoms]
Often late presentation: osteoporosis, atherosclerosis - indirect results of hypogonadism)
How do prolactin levels help determine cause of endo pathology?
Hypothalamic: prolactin rises
Hypopituitarism: prolactin falls
What is the size of a macroadenoma?
> 1cm
What is the most common functioning adenoma?
Prolactinoma
How do non-functioning adenomas present?
Compression symptoms: headache, vision problems (bitemporal hemianopia or upper temporal quadrantanopia) N+V, cranial nerve palsies
What is Sheehan’s syndrome?
Panhypopituitarism following massive obstetric haemorrhage (leading to infarction)
What is pituitary apoplexy?
Infarction or haemorrhage of pituitary tumour (eg from HTN or major surgery)
What are the symptoms of pituitary apoplexy?
Severe thunder-clap retro-orbital headache, N&V, reduced GCS, ophthalmoplegia + bitemporal hemianopia
What is the principle for testing HYPERpituitarism?
Suppression tests (i.e. not suppressed)
What is the principle for testing HYPOpituitarism?
Stimulation tests (i.e. not stimulated)
What is the test for excessive growth hormone?
Oral GTT (+VE: doesn’t suppress)
What is the test for excessive ACTH or CRH?
Dexamethasone (+VE: doesn’t suppress)
What is the test for insufficient GH?
Insulin tolerance (+VE: doesn’t stimulate it)
What is the test for insufficient cortisol?
Synacthen (ACTH analogue) (+VE: doesn’t stimulate it)
What is the test for insufficient GnRH?
Clomifene or LH/FSH (+VE: doesn’t stimulate it)
What are the typical lab findings in diabetes insipidus?
Increased plasma osmolality, decreased urine osmolality
What is the test to differentiate between cranial and nephrogenic DI?
ADH stimulation:
will correct cranial DI
no effect on nephrogenic DI
What are the typical lab findings in SIADH?
Decreased plasma osmolality, increased urine osmolality
Often euvolaemic and normotensive
What is the relationship between dopamine and prolactin?
Dopamine inhibits prolactin
What are physiological causes of hyperprolactinaemia?
Pregnancy
Puerperium
Breast stimulation
Stress
What are intra-cranial causes of hyperprolactinaemia?
Pituitary tumours Tumours compressing the pituitary stalk Head injury Brain surgery or radiotherapy Post-ictal
What are endocrine and metabolic causes of hyperprolactinaemia?
Hypothyroidism (because increased TRH)
Cushing’s syndrome
Cirrhosis of liver
PCOS
Which drugs cause hyperprolactinaemia?
Drugs that block dopamine receptors: domperidone, metoclopramide, neuroleptics, anti-psychotics
Dopamine-depleting agents: methyldopa
Anti-depressants
(+ many more)
What are the initial investigations for hyperprolactinaemia?
Exclude pregnancy
Basal serum prolactin (if mildly elevated: repeat, if excessively high: likely prolactinoma)
TFTs
Visual field testing
Assessment of pituitary function
How is a prolactinoma managed first-line?
Dopamine agonists: cabergoline, bromocriptine, quinagolide
Usually sufficient to shrink tumour (may need several years)
What are the causes of cranial DI?
Idiopathic Tumours Intracranial surgery Head injury Granulomata Cerebral infections Vascular disorders Post-radiotherapy Inherited
What are the causes of nephrogenic DI?
Idiopathic Hypokalaemia Hypercalcaemia CKD Drugs, eg lithium Renal tubular acidosis Pregnancy Post-obstructive uropathy Inherited
Why may DI cause incontinence in those able to get to the toilet?
Chronic overdistension of bladder
How may the signs in a pt with DI?
Signs of dehydration
Bladder may be enlarged and palpable
What investigations should you carry out in a patient with suspected DI?
24-hour urine collection Urine specific gravity Simultaneous plasma and urine osmolality U&Es Plasma glucose Serum calcium
Fluid deprivation test with response to desmopressin
Interpreting causes of DI on basis of water deprivation and desmopressin:
Urine Osmolality:
Before: low - After: high
Before: low - After: low
Before: high - After: high
- Cranial DI
- Nephrogenic DI
- Primary/ psychogenic polydipsia
What is the Mx of cranial DI?
Desmopressin (monitor for hyponatraemia, have tablet-free days)
What is the Mx of nephrogenic DI?
None just allow good access to fluids and correct metabolic abnormalities, drugs etc.
When may serum osmolality be normal (or increased) and urine osmolality be increased?
Dehydration, renal disease, congestive heart failure, Addison’s, hypercalcaemia, hyperglycaemia, hypernatraemia, alcohol ingestion, mannitol therapy
When may serum osmolality be normal (or increased) and urine osmolality be decreased?
DI
When may serum osmolality be decreased and urine osmolality be increased?
SIADH
When may serum osmolality be decreased and urine osmolality be decreased?
Overhydration, hyponatraemia, adrenocortical insufficiency
What are the causes of acromegaly?
Pituitary adenoma
Rare:
Ectopic GH from tumour
Inherited
Why are those affected with acromegaly susceptible to vertebral fractures?
Low-quality bone despite high bone mass
Why is acromegaly not tested with random GH?
Secretion is episodic and half-life is short
Which cancers are screened for in acromegaly?
Colon
Thyroid
What are the investigations for suspected acromegaly?
IGF-1
Assessment of other pituitary hormones as indicated: prolactin, adrenal, thyroid, gonadal
Blood glucose
Bone profile
Serum triglycerides
Visual tests
OGTT to confirm a raised IGF-1
ECG + echo
What is first-line management of acromegaly?
Trans-sphenoidal surgery (i.e. adenoma)
Otherwise, somatostatin analogues, eg octreotide
What are the causes of pseudo-acromegaly?
Insulin resistance associated with hyperinsulinaemia
What is the name for symptomatic hyperthyroidsm?
Thyrotoxicosis
What are the causes of hyperthyroidism? (7)
Graves Overgrowth of gland Tumour Subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain's) Ectopic thyroid tissue Over-treatment of hypothyroidism Drugs: amiodarone, thyroxine OD
What Ix would you carry out following TFTs?
Autoantibody screen
?Radioisotope scan (show ‘hot’ areas)
ECG if hyper (sinus tachy, AF)
What are the management options for hyperthyroidism?
Carbimazole (1 month for effect, sometimes block-and-replace)
Beta-blockers (palpitations, anxiety)
Radioiodine (slow uptake, may still need carbimazole)
Partial thyroidectomy
What blood finding in Graves?
Autoantibodies against TSH receptors
Graves eye disease:
- What are the findings?
- What is the cause?
- Management
- Exophthalmos, conjunctival oedema, lid lag, proptosis, weakening of extraocular muscles, keratitis (if trouble closing)
- Inflammation causes lymphocyte infiltration + activation of fibroblasts secreting osmotically-active hyaluronic acid
- STOP SMOKING, prednisoolone, lubricants
What is the name for symptomatic hypothyroidism?
Myxoedema
What are the causes of hypothyroidism? (7)
Hashimoto’s
Over-treatment of hyperthyroidism
De Quervain’s
Primary atrophic hypothyroidism
Dyshormogenesis (inherited defect, goitre)
Iodine deficiency
Drugs: lithium, amiodarone, excess iodine
How is hypothyroidism treated?
Levothyroxine
In emergencies, what medication is given to rectify hypothyroidism?
liothyronine (T3)
What are the ADRs of thyroxine?
Hyperthyroidism symptoms
What are the ADRs of carbimazole?
Hypothyroidism symptoms
In hypopituitarism, what must be corrected first?
Corticosteroids first to avoid Addisonian crisis
Which medications reduce absorption of thyroxine?
Calcium, iron replacements, antacids
What is the common sequence of symptomology experienced in Hashimoto’s?
Hyper –> eu –> hypo
De Quervain’s
- Definition
- Epidemiology
- Symptoms
- Pathology
- Prognosis
- Inflammation of gland by virus
- Young, middle-age women
- Tender, swollen + febrile illness
- Inflammation causes destruction of follicles, then immune reaction causes granulomas to form
- Usually left with hypo symptoms until gland recovers (days/ months)
Who is commonly affected by primary atrophic hypothyroidism?
Elderly - there is atrophy and fibrosis of gland.
Thought to be end-stage of many thyroid diseases
Causes of goitres
Physiological: puberty, pregnancy
Hyper: Graves’ (bruits, v vascular), thyroiditis
Hypo: all
Multi-nodular goitre (‘toxic’ if these produce hormones)
What might precipitate a thyroid emergency?
Surgery, radioiodine, infection, MI, stroke