endocrine Flashcards
triad for pheochromocytoma
headache
sweating
tachycardia
a cause of 2ndary HTN in young px
what are the types of thyroid cancer + how do you differentiate them
PAPILLARY CANCER
- most common (70%)
- 30-40yrs
- more local invasion via lymphatics
- F
- v good prog
FOLLICULAR CANCER
- second most common
- more common in areas of low iodine + in women
- 30-60
- more likely to spread to lungs + bones haematologically
MEDULLARY CANCER
- Derived from calcitonin producing C-cells -> can present with hypocalcaemia and diarrhoea secondary to raised calcitonin.
- Assoc with Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome type 2A + B although 75% are sporadic.
- Often metastasis to lymph nodes
- Prognosis worse
- Disease activity can be monitored with calcitonin levels.
ANAPLASTIC CANCER
- least common
- 60-70
- aggressive, presents with rapidly growing masses. pressure sx
- invasion of the trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve or other local structures by the time of presentation.
- poor prognosis – median survival: 8 months
THYROID LYMPHOMA
- 10% of thyroid cancers
- Non-Hodgkins
- 50-80
- Assoc with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
sx of prolactinoma (benign tumour of pituitary gland)
excess prolactin in women:
- amenorrhoea
- infertility
- galactorrhoea
- osteoporosis
excess prolactin in men:
- impotence
- loss of libido
- galactorrhoea
other symptoms:
- headache
- visual disturbances (classically, a bitemporal hemianopia (lateral visual fields) or upper temporal quadrantanopia)
- symptoms and signs of hypopituitarism
prolactinoma tx
dopamine agonists e.g. cabergoline, bromocriptine
(inhibit release of prolactin from pituitary)
surgery
what is a somatroph pituitary adenoma
pituitary adenoma that secretes growth hormone causing sx of acromegaly
diagnostic marker for carcinoid syndrome
urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid measurements (5 HIAA)
- measured in 24 hr urine collection
myxoedemic coma
rare, life-threatening clinical condition that represents severe hypothyroidism with physiologic decompensation
most common causes of hypercalcaemia
Malignancy and primary hyperparathyroidism
what is subacute thyroiditis (De Quervain’s thyroiditis)? + the phases
temp inflam of thyroid gland
There are typically 4 phases;
phase 1 (lasts 3-6 weeks): hyperthyroidism, painful goitre, raised ESR, flue-like illness
phase 2 (1-3 weeks): euthyroid
phase 3 (weeks - months): hypothyroidism
phase 4: thyroid structure and function goes back to normal
what is a thyroid storm/thyrotoxic crisis + how does it present?
rare and more severe presentation of hyperthyroidism with high fever, tachycardia and delirium, high BP.
It can be life-threatening and requires admission for monitoring.
what is subclinical hyperthyroidism
normal T3 + 4 levels
low TSH level
what are the risks of subclinical hyperthyroidism
AF
osteoporosis
what is subclinical hypothyroidism
high TSH
normal T4
primary hyperthyroidism
thyroid behaves abnormally and produces excessive thyroid hormones.
high T3 and T4
low TSH level.
secondary hyperthyroidism
pituitary behaves abnormally and produces excessive TSH (e.g., pituitary adenoma), stimulating the thyroid gland to produce excessive thyroid hormones.
TSH, T3 and T4 will all be raised.
Primary hypothyroidism
thyroid behaves abnormally and produces inadequate thyroid hormones. Negative feedback is absent, resulting in increased production of TSH.
TSH is raised, and T3 and T4 are low.
Secondary hypothyroidism
pituitary behaves abnormally and produces inadequate TSH (e.g., after surgical removal of the pituitary), resulting in under-stimulation of the thyroid gland and insufficient thyroid hormones.
TSH, T3 and T4 will all be low.
causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency
inadequate ACTH due to loss or damage to pituitary -> lack of stim to adrenals -> low cortisol
- tumours (pituitary adenoma)
- surgery to pituitary
- radiotherapy
- sheehan’s syndrome (where major PPH -> AVN to pituitary)
- trauma
causes of tertiary adrenal insufficiency
inadequate CRH by the hypothalamus
usually result of px taking long-term oral steroids (>3wks) causing -ve feedback
when they are withdrawn the hypothalamus cannot release the amounts needed fast enough
therefore need to be tapered down
cause of primary adrenal insufficency
addison’s
damage to adrenals - AI
sx of adrenal insufficiency
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Muscle cramps
Dizziness and fainting
Thirst and craving salt
Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Depression
Reduced libido
signs of adrenal insufficiency
Bronze hyperpigmentation of the skin (ACTH stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin)
Hypotension (particularly postural hypotension – with a drop of more than 20 mmHg on standing)
biochemical findings in adrenal insufficiency
hyponatraemia (low Na)
maybe:
hyperkalaemia
hypoglycaemia
raised creatinine + urea due to dehydration
hypercalcaemia
ix for adrenal insufficiency
short Synacthen test (ACTH stim test)
- failure of cortisol to double after dose of synthetic ACTH = addison’s / v signif atrophy of adrenals after long time w 2ndary
ACTH is high in primary and low in secondary
what autoantibodies might you see in addison’s
adrenal cortex antibodies
-21-hydroxylase
-17 alpha hydroxylase
mx of adrenal insufficiency
replacement steroids
- hydrocortisone (glucocorticoid) to replace cortisol
- fludrocortisone (mineralcorticoid) to replace aldosterone)
Give px a steroid card, ID tag + emergency letter
what to do in acute illness if steroid dependent
Double doses (to match normal steroid response to illness)
Px + close contacts to give IM hydrocortisone in emergency
if vomiting take it IM
presentation of adrenal crisis / Addisonian crisis
reduced conc
hypotension
hypoglycaemia
hyponatraemia + hyperkalaemia
cld be initial pres or triggered by infection, trauma, acute illness
mx of adrenal crisis
ABCDE
IM/IV hydrocortisone (initial dose = 100mg, followed by an infusion or 6 hrly doses)
IV fluids
Correct hypoglycaemia (IV dextrose)
monitor electrolytes + fluid balance
what is cushing’s disease
A pituitary adenoma secreting excessive ACTH -> excessive cortisol release from adrenals
what is cushing’s syndrome
the features of prolonged high levels of glucocorticoids in the body.
features of cushing’s syndrome
Round face (known as a “moon face”)
Central obesity
Abdominal striae (stretch marks)
Enlarged fat pad on the upper back (known as a “buffalo hump”)
Proximal limb muscle wasting (with difficulty standing from a sitting position without using their arms)
Male pattern facial hair in women (hirsutism)
Easy bruising and poor skin healing
Hyperpigmentation of the skin in patients with Cushing’s disease (due to high ACTH levels)
metabolic effects of cushing’s syndrome
Hypertension
Cardiac hypertrophy
Type 2 diabetes
Dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol and triglycerides)
Osteoporosis
causes of cushing’s syndrome
C – Cushing’s disease (a pituitary adenoma releasing excessive ACTH)
A – Adrenal adenoma (an adrenal tumour secreting excess cortisol)
P – Paraneoplastic syndrome (when ACTH is released from a tumour somewhere other than the pituitary e.g. small cell lung cancer)
E – Exogenous steroids (patients taking long-term corticosteroids)
ix for cushing’s
dexamethasone suppression tests
low dose test
- cortisol decreased rules out cushing’s
- cortisol remains high -> cushing’s
measure serum ACTH
- if low due to an adrenal tumour (primary)
- if still high there is a secondary cause
high dose test
- cortisol now low = pituitary adenoma
- cortisol still high = ectopic ACTH secretion
tx of cushing’s syndrome
surgical removal of tumour (pituitary/adrenal/ectopic)
what does cortisol do in the body
Increases alertness
Inhibits the immune system
Inhibits bone formation
Raises blood glucose
Increases metabolism
what does gastroparesis cause in T1DM
erratic blood glucose control
bloating
vomiting
diabetics can get gastroparesis due to neuropathy of the vagus nerve
tx of gastroparesis
metoclopramide, domperidone or erythromycin (prokinetic agents)
mx of DKA
- fluid replacement w isotonic saline FIRST (i.e 0.9% NaCl) (1L over 1 hr, 500ml over 5 mins if BP <90)
- IV insulin at 0.1 unit/kg/hr
once blood glucose is <14 mmol/l start an infusion of 10% dextrose as well as fluids - correction of electrolyte dist (K+) - monitor closely
treat underlying triggers such as infection
if the ketonaemia and acidosis have not been resolved within 24 hours then the patient should be reviewed by a senior endocrinologist
dx of DKA
Hyperglycaemia (e.g., blood glucose above 11 mmol/L)
Ketosis (e.g., blood ketones above 3 mmol/L)
Acidosis (e.g., pH below 7.3)
what is SIADH
increased release of ADH (vaspressin) from the posterior pituitary increasing water reabsorption from the urine, diluting the blood + leading to hyponatraemia
urine becomes more conc
sx of SIADH
relate to low Na
can be asx
- headache
- fatigue
- muscle aches + cramps
- confusion
severe hyponatraemia can cause seizures + reduced conc
causes of SIADH
SIADH pneumonic
Small cell lung tumours
Infection
Abscess
Drugs (carbemazepine + antipsychotics)
Head injury
- post-operative after major surgery
- Lung infection, particularly atypical pneumonia and lung abscesses
- Brain pathologies, such as a head injury, stroke, intracranial haemorrhage or meningitis
- Medications (e.g., SSRIs and carbamazepine)
- Malignancy, particularly small cell lung cancer
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
diagnosis of SIADH
no single test
Euvolaemia
Hyponatraemia
Low serum osmolality
High urine sodium
High urine osmolality
exclude things
establish the cause
SIADH meds
Vasopressin receptor antagonists (e.g., tolvaptan)
- needs close monitoring
what is osmotic demyelination syndrome
or CPM
a comp of long-term severe hyponatraemia being treated too quickly (e.g., more than a 10 mmol/L increase per 24 hours).
what are the 2 diff ways diabetes insipidus can occur
CRANIAL - lack of ADH
NEPHROGENIC - lack of response to ADH
causes of cranial diabetes insipidus
Brain tumours
Brain injury
Brain surgery
Brain infections (e.g., meningitis or encephalitis)
Genetic mutations in the ADH gene (autosomal dominant inheritance)
Wolfram syndrome (a genetic condition also causing optic atrophy, deafness and diabetes mellitus)
ix for DI
Low urine osmolality (lots of water diluting the urine)
High/normal serum osmolality (water loss may be balanced by increased intake)
More than 3 litres on a 24-hour urine collection
WATER DEPRIVATION TEST I.E. desmopressin stimulation test
cranial
low urine osmolarity after water deprivation
high urine osmolarity after synthetic ADH given
nephrogenic
urine osmolarity always low
MEN 1 tumours
3Ps
pArathyroid
p1tuitary
pAncreas
MEN 2
2a - 2Ps 1M
PTH
Phaeo
Medullary Ca
2b - 1 P 2Ms
Phaeo
Marfan
Medullary
how is MEN inherited
AD
MEN 2a
2a - 2Ps 1M
PTH
Phaeo
Medullary Ca
MEN 2b
2b - 1 P 2Ms
Phaeochromocytoma - adrenal tumour
Marfan
Medullary thyroid cancer
hypercalcaemia sx
bones, stones, groans, moans
polyuria, polydipsia
hypocalcaemia sx
CATs go numb
Convulsions
Arrythmias
Tetany
Chvostek’s (facial nerve spasm) and Trousseau’s (BF cuff causing wrist to flex + fingers to draw together) signs
ECG in hypocalcaemia
long QT
hypernatraemia sx
thirst + dehydration
weakness, lethargy, irritability, coma
hyponatraemia sx
N&V, headache, irritability, confusion, weakness, decreased CGS, seizures
ECG in hyperkalaemia
tall tented T waves
prolonged PR
wide QRS
small/absent P
hyperkalaemia sx
chest pain
rapid pulse
arrhythmias
headache
decreased power
hypokalaemia sx
muscle weakness
hypotonia
palpitations
ECG in hypokalaemia
you have no Pot, no Tea, but a long PR and a long QT
flat T waves
ST depression
U waves
prolonged PR
dosing regime for hydrocortisone in adrenal insufficiency
majority dosing in the morning, the remainder in the evening
what cancer is hashimotos thyroiditis assoc w
MALT lymphoma
what does metformin do
increases insulin sensitivity
decreases glucose production
hepatobiliary set of action + cleared renally
SEs metformin
GI sx - D&V
lactic acidosis (espesh in hepatic + renal failure but v rare)
when must you stop metformin
px not eating/drinking
AKI
raised lactate
prior to IV radiology contrast (risk of renal failure)
what do SGLT-2 inhibitors do (end in -gliflozin)
cause more glucose to be excreted in urine
when to add SGLT-2 inhibitors (end in -gliflozin) to metformin
when the px has CVD/HF
if their QRISK > 10%
e.g. Dapagliflozin
SEs of SGLT-2 inhibitors (end in -gliflozin)
increase urine output and frequency
UTIs
thrush
when to stop SGLT-2 inhibitors (end in -gliflozin)
everybody has their SGLT-2 withheld on admission to hx due to risk of EKA during acute illness
need senior review prior to restarting
examples of sulfonureas
GLICLAZIDE
tolbutamIDE
glibendamIDE
what does a sulfonylurea do (gliclazide)
stimulate insulin release from the pancreas
‘SPANK THE PANC’
SEs of a sulfonylurea (gliclazide)
weight gain
hypos
what does pioglitazone do (a thiazolidinedione)
increases insulin sensitivity (helps get insulin into the ZONE)
decreases glucose production
SEs of pioglitazone
weight gain
HF (don’t start it if px already has this)
fluid retention
increased fracture risk
increased risk of bladder cancer