Endocrine Flashcards
Define type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia due to absolute insulin deficiency.
What is the epidemiology for type 1 diabetes?
- Accounts for 5-10% of all patients with diabetes.
- More common amongst Europeans.
- Causes more than 85% of diabetes in under 20s.
- Highest incidents amongst 10–14-year-olds.
- Incidence increasing by 3% yearly
What is the genetic aetiology of type 1 diabetes?
Some human leukocyte polymorphisms can increase susceptibility to the disease.(HLA-DR gene)
In susceptible people environmental factors may lead to immune-mediated destruction of beta cells.
Coeliac disease may have link
What is the environmental aetiology of type 1 diabetes?
Much higher rates in Europe may indicate environmental factors no known specific ones.
Vitamin D can be protective
What virus is believed to have a link to type 1 diabetes?
Human enterovirus
What are the risk factors for type 1 diabetes?
Family history
What is the usual physiological cause of type 1 diabetes?
Destruction of pancreatic beta cells (that produce insulin)
Up to 90% of people have autoantibodies
How long does beta cells destruction occur for before symptoms usually start to present for type 1 diabetes?
Months to years
What % of beta cells need to be destroyed before symptoms usually appear for type 1 diabetes?
80-90%
What happens as a result of low insulin levels?
Due to insulin deficiency glucose can’t be utilised from muscle and adipose.
Stimulates secretion of glucagon (adrenaline, cortisol, and growth hormone)
So increased Lipolysis, = weight loss
More glucose in urine - Polyuria and Polydipsia
What does the secretion of glucagon (adrenaline, cortisol, and growth hormone) result in? (Type 1 diabetes)
Gluconeogenesis, Glycogenolysis and ketogenesis.
Patients as a result present with ketoacidosis and hyperglycaemia.
What are the most common key presentations of type 1 diabetes?
- Hyperglycaemia (above 11.1).
- Polyuria (passing urine frequently).
- Polydipsia (drinking water frequently)
- Tiredness
What are some other common key presentations of type 1 diabetes?
young age, weight loss, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting, Abdo pain,
What are the first line investigations for children in type 1 diabetes?
- Random plasma glucose (above 11)
- Fasting plasma glucose (above 7)
What are the first line investigations for adults in type 1 diabetes?
- Hyperglycaemia (above 11.1) (random plasma glucose) - one of Ketosis, Rapid weight loss, Age <50 years, BMI <25 kg/m², personal and/or family history of autoimmune disease this is for adults
What is the gold standard test for diagnosing type 1 diabetes in children?
Glycohemoglobin test (HbA1c)
Reflects the degree of hyperglycaemia over the preceding 3 months greater than 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) indicates diabetes
What are other diagnostic tests you do to confirm a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes?
- Plasma or urine ketones,
- C-peptide,
- Autoimmune markers
What are some differential diagnoses of type 1 diabetes?
Monogenic diabetes: maturity onset diabetes of the young
Neonatal diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
What is the management of type 1 diabetes?
o Basal-bolus insulin (insulin glargine s/c)
o Pre-meal insulin correction dose
o Amylin analogue (pramlintide)
2nd line: fixed insulin dose
What is the difference between Basal and Bolus insulin dosing for Diabetes?
The two main ways to take insulin are bolus and basal.
Bolus insulin is the quick-acting delivery that you often take before mealtimes.
Basal insulin is longer-acting and helps keep your glucose levels steady day and night
What is the main medical drug given to treat T1DM?
Using a combination of long-acting insulin (insulin detemir, degludec, or glargine) for basal dosing,
and rapid-acting insulin (insulin lispro, aspart, or glulisine) for bolus dosing
What are the side effects of insulin?
hypoglycaemia, weight gain, lipodystrophy
What would you monitor for patients with diabetes?
Measure HbA1c levels every 3 months in children and every 3-6 months in adults
Make sure level is under 6.5% (48 mmol/mol)
Also monitor BP and kidney function
What are the short-term complications associated with type 1 diabetes?
Death due to ketoacidosis
What are some microvascular complications of diabetes?
Peripheral neuropathy- nerves in the body’s extremities, such as the hands, feet and arms, are damaged
Retinopathy- damage to vessels in the eye
Kidney disease, particularly glomerulosclerosis
What are some macrovascular complications of diabetes?
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of death in diabetics
Peripheral ischaemia causes poor healing, ulcers and “diabetic foot”
Stroke
Hypertension
What are the long-term complications associated with type 1 diabetes?
- Microvascular: retinopathy, peripheral or autonomic neuropathy
- Cardiovascular disease, diabetic kidney disease.
- Potential for depression and eating disorder#
- Foot amputations
- Blindness
Define type 2 diabetes
A progressive disorder defined by deficits in insulin secretion and insulin resistance that lead to abnormal metabolism and related metabolic derangements
What percentage of diabetes cases are type 2?
90%
What is the epidemiology of type 2?
OLDER! >30 years of age. Often overweight around the abdomen
- More prevalent in South Asian, African and Caribbean ancestry
Common is all populations enjoying an affluent lifestyle
More common in males
By how much cases of type 2 diabetes have increased since 1980
4%
What is the aetiology of type 2 diabetes?
Genetic
What are some risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
Ageing
high BMI
gestational diabetes
non-white ancestry
polycystic ovary syndrome
hypertension
What BMI is overweight?
25-29.9
What BMI is considered obese?
> 30
What is the pathophysiology for type 2 diabetes?
Insulin resistance affects primarily the liver, muscle, and adipocytes,
It is characterized by complex derangements in cellular receptors, intracellular glucose kinase function, and other intracellular metabolic processes
Over time, the pancreas (specifically the beta cells) becomes fatigued and damaged by producing so much insulin and they start to produce less.
How does type 2 diabetes cause damage to blood vessels and nerves?
Glycated end products accumulating in tissues damages them.
What are the key presentations for type 2 diabetes?
Hyperglycaemia with presence of risk factors
E.g., Overweight, certain ethnic groups, age
What are some signs of type 2 diabetes?
High blood glucose levels
What are symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Polydipsia
Polyuria
candidal infections,
skin infection,
UTIs,
fatigue,
blurred vison
uncommon symptoms
What are first line investigations for type 2 diabetes?
Fasting glucose, 2-hour post load glucose (75g orally) random plasma glucose
What is the gold standard test for type 2 diabetes?
HbA1c
What are some differential diagnosis for type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes, other types e.g. gestational, adolescent
What is the initial management for type 2 diabetes?
1st lifestyle changes plus agree glycaemic (HbA1c) target
Adjunct of BP and lipid management
What is the management for acute type 2 diabetes?
HbA1c is above target 1st metformin plus lifestyle measures, cardiovascular risk reduction, and specific considerations
How would you manage type 2 diabetes?
Every 3 to 6 months (tailored to individual needs), until the patient’s HbA1c is stable on unchanging therapy *
Every 6 months once the patient’s HbA1c level and blood glucose-lowering therapy are stable.
First-line is metoformin
When should a second anti-diabetic drug be added to the use of metformin?
When HBA1c rises above 58mmol/mol despite maximum dose of metformin
How does metformin work?
- Metformin which increases the rate of gluconeogenesis in the liver??????? tom i think this is the exact opposite of what it does
- Increases cell sensitivity to insulin
- Helps with weight issues
- reduces CVS risk in diabetes
What are some other anti-diabetic drugs?
- Sulfonylureas (gliclazide) they promote insulin secretion but only work in people with functional B-cells. Risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Increased risk of CVD when used as a monotherapy
- Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) (incretins): they are hormones produced in the GI tract which increase Increase insulin secretions, Inhibit glucagon production, Slow absorption by the GI tract
- SGLT-2 inhibitors “-gliflozin”, such as empagliflozin, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin- it inhibits glucose reabsorption from the the urine into the blood
What is a basal bolus that is given in type 1 DM and sometimes in bad T2DM
Givng a dose before each meal in order to miminc the effect of insulin released
So three times a day
eg. Insulin Inspiro, or Insulin Aspart
What insulin medication pattern do you see in T2DM
Just once a day, (Basal) sometimes twice (BD)
What else would you monitor in a patient with type 2 diabetes?
Measure blood pressure at least once a year in an adult with type 2 diabetes without previously diagnosed hypertension or renal disease.
What are some low likelihood complications associated with type 2 diabetes?
Diabetic kidney disease, impaired vision, lower extremity amputation
What are the most likely complications associated with type 2 diabetes?
Cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, stroke.
Diabetic ketoacidosis if very poorly managed
Why are you more at risk of infections if you have type 2 diabetes?
Hyperglycaemia impairs immune function
How years on average is someone’s life shortened by type 2 diabetes?
Men lose 5.8 years women lose 6.8 years
What is ketoacidosis?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is characterized by a biochemical triad of hyperglycaemia (or a history of diabetes), ketonemia, and metabolic acidosis, with rapid symptom onset.
What is the main cause of ketoacidosis?
Uncontrolled/undiagnosed diabetes
What is the pathophysiology of ketoacidosis?
Reduced insulin concentration and insulin counter regulatory hormones leads to hyperglycaemia and electrolyte imbalance.
Insulin deficiency leads to release of fatty acids (lipolysis), hepatic fatty acid oxidation and increased formation of ketone bodies (hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate (most common)).
This results in ketonemia and acidosis
What are the key presentations of ketoacidosis?
Patients with known diabetes who are experiencing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hyperventilation, dehydration and reduced consciousness
Or patients with suspected diabetes and these symptoms
What are the common symptoms of ketoacidosis?
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hyperventilation, dehydration and reduced consciousness
What are some biochemical signs of ketoacidosis?
Hyporkalaemia, high plasma osmolarity, blood ketones.
What are some other symptoms of ketoacidosis?
Acetone smell on breath
Hypothermia
What is the first line investigation for ketoacidosis?
Venous blood gas greater
What blood PH indicates mild to moderate ketoacidosis?
Below normal but above 7
What blood PH indicates severe ketoacidosis?
Below 7
What is the gold standard test for ketoacidosis?
Urinary analysis
What other tests would you order for a patient with ketoacidosis?
ECG, pregnancy test
What are some differential diagnoses for diabetic ketoacidosis?
- Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state,
- Latic acidosis (order serum lactate).
- Starvation/alcoholic ketoacidosis
How would you treat ketoacidosis?
- Give a fluid bolus of 500 mL of normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) over 10 to 15 minutes if the initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) is <90 mmHg.
- Give IV insulin to lower blood glucose
- Add potassium to the second litre of intravenous fluid if serum potassium is ≤5.5 mmol/L. As giving insulin lowers potassium
How would you monitor ketoacidosis?
- order hourly blood glucose and hourly blood ketones.
- Perform a venous blood gas for pH, bicarbonate, and potassium at 60 minutes, 2 hours and then every 2 hours after
- Assess GCS
What are some complications associated with ketoacidosis?
- Hypokalaemia (due to high dose insulin therapy)
- Arterial/venous thrombotic events
- Cerebral oedema (main cause of death)
- ARDS (occurs when too much fluid is given)
What is the prognosis for a patient with ketoacidosis?
0.67% mortality
What is Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state?
A profound state of hyperglycaemia and hyperosmolarity and volume depletion in the absence of ketoacidosis more commonly a side effect of T2DM
What is the epidemiology of HHS?
- Usually occurs in the elderly but is more recognised in younger patients
- Average age is 60
- Often the first presentation of T2DM (20-30% of cases)
What causes HHS?
- Usually triggered by an infection. Due to the relative lack of insulin, coupled with a rise in cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon there is a profound rise in glucose
- The excessive glucose leads to massive osmotic diuresis within the kidneys with loss of Na and K.
- There is profound dehydration which leads to the viscosity of the blood increasing the risk of DVT and stroke and MI
What are the signs of HHS?
- Reduced GCS - reduced consciousness/ coma
- Dehydration - tachycardia and hypotension, dry mucous membranes, reduced skin turgor
- Could be confused for a stroke - e.g. hemiparesis
- Seizures
What are the investigations for HHS?
Laboratory glucose, urea & electrolytes blood test (electrolyte derangement and AKI due to dehydration), ABG/VBG (hyperglycaemia without a metabolic acidosis) and a blood or urinary ketone level.
What is the diagnostic criteria for HHS?
- Hyperglycaemia > 30 without hyperketonaemia and acidosis
- Hyperosmolarity >320
What is the treatment for HHS?
- IV fluid (0.9% saline)- results in reduction in osmolality and glucose. Insulin not always required
- Potassium replacement
- Anti-coagulant
What is Graves’ disease?
An autoimmune disease associated with hyperthyroidism
What are some other causes of Hyperthyroidism?
Toxic adenoma
Toxic multinodular goitre
What is the cause of Graves’ disease?
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor antibodies cause the hyperthyroid syndrome and underlie the extrathyroidal manifestations.
Describe the epidemiology of Graves’ disease
- 2.5% prevalence.
- More common in older age groups.
- 6 times more common in women.
- 20-50 cases per 100,000 per year
Is graves’ disease more common in men or women?
Women (6x more likely)
What is the aetiology of Graves’?
TSH receptor antibodies
Combination of genetic and environmental risk factors.
No specific genes but HLA linked.
What 2 autoantibodies are found in 75% of patients with Graves’ disease
Thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase.
What are some risk factors for Graves’?
- Family history of autoimmune disease (HLA-DR3)
- Tobacco use
- Female sex
- Radiation
- High iodine intake (increases TRH)
- Lithium therapy
What is the pathophysiology of Graves?
- TSH receptor antibodies bind to thyroid
- This causes increased thyroid hormone production
- The increased production leads to thyroid hypertrophy
- Symptoms occur as result of increase in thyroid hormone
What are the key presentations for Graves’/hyperthyroidism?
- Presence of risk factors
- Heat intolerance + increased sweating
- Weight loss
- Palpitations
- Goitre
- Orbitopathy
What are some signs of Graves?
- Elevated TSH receptor antibodies
- Suppressed TSH levels
- Elevated T3 and T4
What are some other symptoms associated with Graves/hyperthyroidism?
- Irritability
- Cardiac flow murmur
- Moist velvety skin
- Scalp hair loss
What is the first line investigation for Graves?
- Serum TSH (levels will be surppressed)
What is the gold standard test for Graves disease?
- Presence of TSH receptor antibodies
What are some other tests you can do to make a diagnosis of Graves?
- Serum T3 and T4
- Thyroid isotope scan
- Ultrasound of thyroid
- Pregnancy test
What are some differential diagnosis for Graves?
- Toxic nodular goitre,
- Pregnancy related,
- TSH producing pituitary adenoma
What are some side effects of Antithyroid drugs (thionamides)
Rash (most common)
hepatitis
vasculitis
Agranulocytosis (most serious side effect)- sore throat fever, mouth ulcers
What is the main goal when treating Graves?
- To normalise thyroid function parameters
There is nothing done to counteract autoimmune aspect
How would you treat Graves?
- Antithyroid medications- decreases synthesis of of new thyroid hormone (carbimazole)
- Radioactive Iodine
- Thyroid ablation
How would you monitor Graves?
Measure TSH levels at 6 week intervals until levels are stable
What are some complications associated with Graves?
- AF
- Congestive heart failure
- Bone mineral loss
What risk associated with Graves?
Cardiovascular problems
What are the four main types of thyroid cancer?
- Follicular
- Anaplastic
- Medullary
- Papillary
FAMP
What percentage of thyroid cancers do the 4 main types make up?
98%
Is thyroid cancer more common in men or women?
Women
What is the most common age to be diagnosed with thyroid?
45-54
What is the prevalence of thyroid cancer?
15.8 per 100,000
What are risk factors for developing thyroid cancer?
- Head and neck irradiation
- Female sex
- Genetic factors
What is the most common pathophysiology of
a papillary carcinoma?
- Papillary carcinoma tends to spread to local lymph nodes
What is the common pathophysiology of a follicular tumour?
- Follicular and Hurthle cells often spread haematogenous.
How does anaplastic thyroid cancer spread?
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare, aggressive, undifferentiated carcinoma with a high propensity for local invasion and metastatic spread.
What are the key presentations for thyroid cancer?
- Presence of risk factors
- Palpable thyroid nodule
What are some symptoms of thyroid cancer?
- Hoarseness
- Tracheal deviation
- Dyspnoea
- Dysphagia
What is a first-line investigation for thyroid cancer
Normal TSH with reduced thyroid function
What is the gold standard test for thyroid cancer?
Fine-needle biopsy
What is a differential diagnosis for thyroid cancer?
A benign thyroid nodule
How would you manage a follicular tumour?
The standard approach is surgery followed by radioactive iodine ablation and suppression of TSH for most patients
How would you manage a medullary tumour?
Total thyroidectomy
How would you treat an anaplastic tumour?
Total thyroidectomy and if that is not possible then with chemo/radio therapy
How would you treat a thyroid lymphoma?
With radio and chemotherapy
What are some disease related complications of thyroid cancer?
- Airway obstruction
- Secondary tumours
What are some complications of a thyroidectomy?
- Hypoparathyroidism due to damage to parathyroid glands
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve damage
What is the prognosis for a papillary/follicular carcinoma?
> 90% 10 year survival rate
- medullary is slightly worse due to more metastasis
What is the prognosis for a anaplastic thyroid tumour?
Average survival of a few months after diagnosis
What is the prognosis for a medullary tumour?
80% 5 year survival rate
What is the prognosis for a primary thyroid lymphoma?
<50% 5 year survival rate
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing syndrome is the clinical manifestation of pathological hypercortisolism from any cause.
What’s the most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome?
Exogenous corticosteroid exposure
For example taking steroids e.g., prednisone
What is the difference between Cushing’s syndrome and Cushing’s disease
- Cushing’s syndrome disease is pathological hypercortisolism from any cause.
- Cushing’s disease is hypercortisolism caused by a endogenous source e.g., pituitary adenoma
What is the incidence of Cushing’s syndrome per year
0.7-2.4 per million population
Is Cushing’s syndrome more common in men or women?
Women, Cushing’s disease is also more common in women
What is the most likely age range to be diagnosed with Cushing’s?
20-50
What is the most common cause of Cushing’s disease?
Pituitary adenomas- make up 70-80% of all cases
What % of Cushing’s disease is caused by pituitary adenomas?
70-80%
What % of pituitary adenomas result in excessive ACTH production?
10%
What % of Cushing’s disease is caused by adrenal adenomas?
10%
Name 2 other causes of Cushing’s disease?
- Ectopic neuroendocrine tumours (usually masses in the lungs)
- Adrenal carcinoma
What is ACTH-dependant Cushing’s disease?
overproduction of ACTH which stimulates adrenal gland to secrete more cortisol.
What two types of tumour are ACTH-dependant causes of Cushing’s disease?
Pituitary adenoma, ectopic neuroendocrine ACTH secreting tumours
What is ACTH-independant Cushing’s disease
When there is excessive cortisol production without high levels of ACTH
What are the 6 hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary?
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Luteinising hormone (LH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Growth hormone (GH)
What are the two hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary?
Oxytocin
Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)