Endocrine Flashcards
Give a simple definition of type 1 diabetes
Autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells –> complete insulin deficiency
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is T1DM?
4
What are 3 risk factors for T1DM
Northern European
Other autoimmune diseases e.g. coeliac, rheumatoid arthritis
Gene mutations/ variants
Which specific genes may be different in T1DM and where are they found (what cell)
HLA DR3-DQ2
HLA DR4-DQ8
Found on Beta cells (they express HLA genes)
Epidemiology of T1DM (3 things)
Age usually 5-15
BMI < 25
10% of all diabetes
How does T1DM cause hyperglycaemia?
B cells attacked –> insulin deficiency –> gluconeogenesis, glycogenlysis, decreased cell uptake of glucose
How does T1DM cause hyperkalemia (in blood)?
Insulin stimulates Na+/K+ ATPase pumps, therefore lack of insulin means K+ can’t get in cells
How is T1DM diagnosed?
RPA > 11.1 mmol/l
FPG > 7 mol/l
HbA1C >48 mol/l or 6.5%
Signs/ symptoms of T1DM (3)
Polydipsia
Polyuria
Weight loss (can’t get glucose in cells)
Treatment of T1DM
SC fat insulin injection
Rapid acting insulin name
aspart
Short acting insulin name
regular insulin
Intermediate acting insulin name
NPH (Neutral protamine hagedorn)
Long acting insulin name
Glargine
What is DKA (simple)
Complication of diabetes (usually type 1) where lack of insulin = high ketone levels, acidosis and hyperglycaemia
Pathology of DKA (hyperglycaemia, acidosis and high ketone levels)
No insulin –> hyperglycaemia (but cells starved of glucose) –> lipolysis/ ketogenesis –> increase in ketones in blood –> acidosis (initially buffered by bicarbonate)
What might bring on DKA
Illness/ infection
Symptoms of DKA (4)
Diabetes symptoms
Nausea/ vomiting
Confusion/ drowsiness
Abdo pain (liver stretches)
Signs of DKA (4)
Kussmaul breathing (deep+fast to expel CO2)
Pear drop breath
Hypotension (hypovolaemic)
Tachycardia
Diagnosis of DKA
RPG > 11 mmol/l
Plasma ketones > 3 mmol/l
Blood pH < 7.35 or Bicarb < 15 mmol/l
Treatment of DKA
- ABC (emergency)
- Fluids (0.9% saline)
- IV regular insulin and K+
Why is K+ essential to treat DKA with
Insulin makes K+ enter cells therefore K+ will immediately enter cells when insulin administered, so K+ in the blood must be restored to prevent cardiac arrest
Complications of DKA (3)
Coma/ death
Cerebral oedema
Aspiration pneumonia
What is T2DM (simple)
Peripheral insulin resistance and may lead to insulin deficiency
Pathology of T2DM
Repeated insulin exposure –> insulin resistance –> more insulin required for response –> beta cells grow tired + stop working –> insulin deficiency
T2DM risk factors (6)
Age (30+)
Male
Obesity
Sedentary
African or South Asian
Genetics
Signs + symptoms of T2DM (7)
Fatigue
Polydipsia + polyuria
Glucosuria
Slower onset > 6 months
Central obesity
Slow healing + infections (bad circulation)
Blurred vision (once progressed)
Diagnoses of T2DM (4 ways) and diagnostic values
Fasting plasma glucose = after 8 hours
Oral glucose tolerance test = 75g glucose drink after fast then measure glucose level 2 hours later
What are the 5 steps to manage T2DM
- Lifestyle changes
- Metformin
- Double therapy
- Triple therapy
- Insulin
What class of drug is metformin
Biguanide
How does Metformin work (2)
- Decrease liver gluconeogenesis
- Increase cell sensitivity to insulin
Metformin side effects (2)
- GI disturbances
- lactic acidosis, as no gluconeogenesis. (can be serious)
What can metformin be used in combination with (4)
- DPP 4 inhibitors
- Sulfonylurea - cause Beta cells to make more insulin (glicazide)
- Pioglitazone - improve insulin sensitivity
- SGLT-2 inhibitors
What is hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (simple)
Hyperglycaemia without ketosis
What is the pathophysiology of HHS how does it cause hyperglycaemia and dehydration?
Low insulin –> hyperglycaemia
(Insulin not absent therefore ketogenesis does not occur)
Hyperglycaemia –> glucose sucks water out of blood –> dehydration
What may bring on HHS in those with diabetes?
Infection/illness
Signs/ symptoms of HHS (4)
- Diabetes symptoms
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
Investigations for HHS (4)
- RPG = high
- Urine dipstick = glycosuria
- Plasma osmolality > 320 mOsm/kg
- No ketones in urine
Treatment for HHS
- Fluid replacement (0.9% saline)
- Insulin - slow infusion; with K+
What is diabetes insipidus (simple)
A lack of ADH or a lack of response to ADH
What are the 2 types of DI
- Nephrogenic - collecting ducts don’t respond to ADH
- Cranial - impaired production/ secretion from hypothalamus/ post. pituitary
Where does ADH take effect and what channel does it effect?
- V2 receptor - increases expresion of AQ2 in collecting ducts of kidneys; increases reabsorption of Na+ in the collecting ducts.
- V1 receptor - causes vasoconstriction
Where is AQ1 found
Proximal convoluted tubules and descending limb of LoH
What is primary polydipsia
Some idiot drinking too much
What causes nephrogenic DI (4)
- Drugs (e.g. lithium for BPD)
- Renal disease
- Electrolyte imbalances (damage nephrons)
- Congential/ inherited/ mutation
What causes cranial DI (5)
- Idiopathic
- Brain tumours
- Head injury
- Congential/ mutation
- Infection (meningitis)
Signs/ symptoms of DI (4)
- polyuria/ polydipsia
- dehydration
- Postural hypotension
- Hypernatraemia (hypovolemic)
How much urine is suspicious of DI
3 litres in 24 hours
What is the diagnostic test for DI and describe it
Water deprivation test:
* no fluids 8 hours - measure urine osmolality
* give synth. ADH - measuere urine osmolality 8 hours later
What are the expected results of water deprevation test for cranial DI, nephrogenic DI and pimary polydipsia
What other investigations may be done for DI (3)
- Urine dip
- U&Es
- Cranial MRI (check for tumours…)
Compliactions of DI (2)
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalance
Treatment for DI
Treat underlying cause
* rehydration for mild
* Cranial - desmopressin
* Nephrogenic - thiazide diuretic: bendroflumethiozide
How do thiazide diuretics work
Block Na-Cl co-transporters and blarrrrr blarrrrr blarrrrrrrrr
But nobody has a fucking clue
What is syndrome of inappropriate ADH (simple)
Large amounts of ADH cause excess fluid to be reabsorbed in collecting duct
Pathophysiology of SIADH - how does it cause excess reabsorption of water
Excess ADH is produced/ secreted–> increase expression of AQ2 in collecting duct –> increased reabsorption of water
Why does euvolaemic hyponatraemia occur in SIADH
Sodium is excreted from kidneys to compensate for the over reabsorption of water. As water follows sodium the correct fluid volume is maintained, however the body is low in sodium.
What causes SIADH (4)
- Infection
- Head injury
- Medications
- Tumours (secrete ADH)
Which tumours can secrete ADH (5)
- SCLC
- Prostate
- Thymus
- Pancreatic
- Lymphomas
Which medications cause SIADH (3)
- Thiazide diuretics
- NSAIDs
- SSRIs
What are the symptoms of SIADH (4), (signs in next card)
- N+V
- Headache
- Fatigue
- confusion
siezures + reduced consiousness more severe symptoms of hyponatraemia
What are the signs of SIADH (3)
- Raised jugular vein pressure
- Oedema
- Ascites
How is SIADH diagnosed
It is a diagnosis of exclusion
* U&E –> hyponatraemia and normal K
* Urine sodium + osmolality = high
Exclude other causes of hyponatraemia e.g. CKD, diuretic use…
How is SIADH managed (what medicine is used)
- Treat cause
- Fluid restriction
- Tolvaptan - ADH receptor antagonist; Furosemide - strong diuretic
What are some complications of SIADH (4)
- Cerebral oedema
- Siezures
- Coma
- Central pontine myelinolysis
How does SIADH cause central pontine demyelinolysis
Na+ low in blood –> solutes move out of brain to prevent cerebral oedema
Hyponatraemia treated too quickly
Blood Na+ rises quickly –> water moves out of brain quickly –> demyelination of neuones
What is Cushing’s syndrome (simple)
Chromic excess of cortisol
Where is cortisol released from
zona fasiculata of the adrenal gland
Describe the HPA axis
Hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone –> anterior pituitary releases adrenocorticotropin releasing hormone –> adrenal gland releases cortisol
This is regulated by negative feedback
Cortisol actions in body (5)
- Inhibits immune system
- Increases blood glucose
- Increases alertness
- Increases metabolism
- Inhibits bone formation
All more long term flight/ fight responces
Causes of cushing’s ACTH dependant (2)
- Cushings disease - pituitary adenoma releases ACTH –> adrenal hyperplasia
- Ectopic ACTH - from SCLC
Causes of Cushing’s ACTH independant (2)
- Adrenal adenoma - secretes cortisol
- Iatrogenic steroid use (corticosteroids)
iatrogenic = caused by medical procedure or treatment
What are the sign and symptoms of Cushing’s (5)
- Moon face (round)
- Central obesity
- Buffalo hump (fat on shoulders)
- Abdominal striae
- Osteoporosis
How is Cushing’s syndrome investigated
- Random plasma cortisol levels, if abnormal…
- Dexamethasone suppression test, if abnormal…
- Plasma ACTH
How is random plasma cortisol levels different in those with cushing’s
Does not follow typical diurnal pattern (high in morning, low at night)
And generally higher overall
What is dexamethasone
Binds to same receptors as cortisol (therefore inhibits ACTH)
Describe how the low dose dexamethasone supression test works
1 mg DM given @10pm –> cortisol measured @9am
Low cortisol = normal
High/ normal cortisol = cushing’s
Describe how the high dose dexamethasone supression test works
8mg DM given @10pm –> ACTH and cortisol measued @9am
Low cortisol = cushings disease (-ve feedback in high dose able to suppress pit adenoma)
High/ normal cortisol and low ACTH = adrenal adenoma
High/ normal cortisol and high ACTH = ectopic ACTH tumour
How is Cushing’s treated (2)
- Treat/ stop underlying cause (excise tumour/ stop meds)
- Remove adrenal glands and give steroidal treatment
What are some compliactions of cushing’s (3)
- Diabetes (cortisol increases blood glucose so cells can become resistant to insulin)
- Hypertension/ CVD
- Osteoporosis
What is adrenal insufficiency (simple)
Adrenal glands dont produce enough steroid hormones (cortisol and aldosterone)
What are the two types of adrenal insufficiency
- Primary AI (Addison’s disease) = adrenal cortex damaged
- Secondary AI = pituitary/ hypothalamic involvement (low ACTH/ CRH)
Pathophysiology of two types of adrenal insufficiency
Primary - adrenal gland damaged = low steroids –> hight ACTH to try to compensate
Secondary - low CRH/ACTH –> low steroidal hormones
What are some causes of Addison’s disease (2)
- Autoimmune destruction - 80% of cases in UK
- TB infection - damages adrenal gland
What antibody is often present in those with Addison’s
21-hydroxylase antibody
What causes secondary AI (5)
- Surgery
- Infection e.g. meningitis
- Radiotherapy
- Necrosis
- Iatrogenic - supression of HPA
What are some symptoms of AI (5)
- Fatigue/ weakness
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Decreased libido
- Change in body hair
(Dermatological stuff in the signs card)