Endo Flashcards
Endocrinology is the study of
hormones (and their gland of origin), their receptors,
the intracellular signalling pathways, and their associated diseases
DEF Endocrine (within/separate):
• These glands ‘pour’ secretions directly into the blood stream, without ducts, e.g. thyroid, adrenal and beta cells of pancreas
DEF Exocrine (outside):
• These glands ‘pour’ secretions through a duct to site of action e.g. submandibular, parotid and pancreas - amylase & lipase
DEF Hormone action:
• Endocrine
• Paracrine
• Autocrine
- Endocrine - blood-borne, acting a distant sites
- Paracrine - acting on nearby adjacent cells
- Autocrine - feedback on same cell that secreted hormone - acts on itself
Hypophysiotropic hormones:
- Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH):
• Stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
• Stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH):- Somatostatin (SST) - INHIBITS release of GHRH
- Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
• Stimulates the release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) - Gonadatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH):
• Stimulates the release of luteinising hormone (LH) & follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - Dopamine (DA):
• INHIBITS the release of prolactin
- Prolactin is under negative control by dopamine thus if the pituitary connecting stalk/infundibulum was destroyed then that would results in an increase in the secretion of prolactin as its negative pressure would not be able to reach it
Hormones of the anterior pituitary:
Secretes?
mnemonic
- Secretes 6 PEPTIDE hormones:
1. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): - Produced in gonadotrophs
2. Lutenizing hormone (LH): - Prodcued in gonadotrophs
3. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH - also known as corticotropin): - Produced in corticotrophs
4. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH - also known as thyrotropin): - Produced in thyrotrophs
5. Prolactin: - Produced in lactotrophs
6. Growth hormone (GH - also known as somatotropin): - Produced in somatotrophs
- FLATPIG:
• FSH
• LSH
• ACTH
• TSH
• Prolactin
• Ignore
• GH
ALL pituitary & hypothalamic hormones act on
G-PROTEIN COUPLED
RECEPTORS
(TREAT Prolactinoma - increased prolactin:)
using dopamine agonist which in turn will inhibit prolactin release e.g. CABERGOLINE
DIABETES MELLITUS (DM): • Definition:
- Syndrome of chronic hyperglycaemia due to relative insulin deficiency, resistance or both
- Hyperglycaemia results in serious microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy) or macrovascular (strokes, renovascular disease, limb ischaemia and above all heart disease) problems
- So think of DM as a vascular disease
CLINICAL PRESENTATION DMT1 & 2:
• Polyuria and nocturia:
- Since glucose draws water into the urine by osmosis - not enough glucose can be reabsorbed as kidneys have reached the renal maximum reabsorptive capacity
- This results in high levels of glucose in tubule urine and thus lots of water resulting in polyuria and nocturia
• Polydipsia (thirst):
- Due to the loss of fluid and electrolytes from excess glucose and thus water being in the urine
• Weight loss:
- Due to fluid depletion and the accelerated breakdown of fat and muscle secondary to insulin deficiency
DIAGNOSIS DMT1 & 2:
• Random plasma glucose > 11.1mmol/L = DIABETES DIAGNOSIS
• Fasting plasma glucose > 7mmol/L = DIABETES DIAGNOSIS
- For both tests one abnormal value is DIAGNOSTIC in symptomatic individuals
- Two abnormal values are required in asymptomatic individuals
• For borderline cases:
- Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT):
• Fasting > 7mmol/L = DIABETES DIAGNOSIS
• 2 hrs after glucose > 11.1 mmol/L = DIABETES DIAGNOSIS
• Can also detect impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) - a risk factor for future diabetes and cardiovascular disease:
- Fasting < 7mmol/L
- 2 hrs after glucose 7.8-11.0mmol/L
• Haemoglobin A1c:
- Measures amount of glycated haemoglobin - thus tells us blood glucose
concentration
- HbA1c > 6.5% normal (48mmol/mol) = DIABETES DIAGNOSIS
Treatment of DMT 1+2
-hypertension with ACE-inhibitors e.g. RAMIPRIL (or angiotensin receptor blocker e.g. CANDESARTAN if ACE intolerant - usually cough) for patients
with one other major cardiovascular risk factor
(target below 130/80 mmHg)
-hyperlipidaemia with statins e.g. SIMVASTATIN
(+ oral metformin ( biguanide))
- risk factors for long term complication
(orlistat for obesity)
If HbA1c > 53mmol/L 16 weeks later then add a sulfonylurea e.g. ORAL GLICLAZIDE: safest drug in the very elderly is ORAL TOLBUTAMIDE
If at 6 months the HbA1c > 57mmol/L consider adding:
- ISOPHANE INSULIN or a long-acting analogue
- Or a glitazone e.g. ORAL PIOGLITAZONE (replaces
metformin or sulfonylurea ^ insulin sensitivity)
- Or could use sulfonylurea receptor binders e.g. ORAL
NATEGLINIDE
- Or could use glucagon-like peptide analogues (GLP) (promotes insulin release after oral glucose load) e.g. SC EXENATIDE:
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA) - DIABETIC METABOLIC EMERGENCY!: insulin amount?
INSULIN MAY NEED ADJUSTING UP OR DOWN BUT SHOULD NEVER BE
STOPPED!!
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA) - DIABETIC METABOLIC EMERGENCY!: Diagnosis:
- Hyperglycaemia - blood glucose > 11mmol/L
- Raised plasma ketones > 3mmol/L - measured using a finger prick sample and near-patient meter that measure Beta-hydroxybutyrate (major ketone)
- Acidaemia - blood pH < 7.3
- Metabolic acidosis with bicarbonate < 15mmol/L
HYPEROSMOLAR HYPERGLYCAEMIC STATE:
- This is a life-threatening emergency characterised by marked hyperglycaemia, hyperosmolality and mild or no ketosis
- This is the metabolic emergency characteristic of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus
Diabetic neuropathy treatment
- Good glycaemic control
- Treated with PARACETAMOL
- Tricyclic antidepressant e.g. AMITRIPTYLINE
- Anticonvulsants e.g. GABAPENTIN or PREGABALIN
- Opiates e.g. TRAMADOL
HYPOGLYCAEMIA DEF-
commonest endocrine emergency:
• Defined as plasma glucose < 3mmol/L
HYPOGLYCAEMIA In non-diabetics
- EXPLAIN:
• Ex -Exogenous drugs - insulin, oral hypoglycaemic, alcohol binge with no food
• P - Pituitary insufficiency
• L - Liver failure
• A - Addison’s disease
• I - Islets cell tumour (insulinoma) & immune hypoglycaemia
• N - Non-pancreatic neoplasm e.g. fibrosarcomas and haemangiopericytomas
HYPOGLYCAEMIA treatment
Oral sugar and long-acting starch e.g. toast
- If cannot swallow then give 50% GLUCOSE IV
- Or IM GLUCAGON if no IV access
Hyperthyroidism:
Graves’ disease:
*Graves’ opthalmopathy Tx:
Treated with IV METHYLPREDNISOLONE and surgical
decompression or eyelid surgery