Endocrine Flashcards
Diagnostic Procedures for the Endocrine System
-blood, urine, or saliva; determine an excess or lack of a particular hormone
-Some of these tests stimulate a reaction in the body that will facilitate diagnosis of a particular disorder.
-Stimulation testing involves giving hormones to stimulate the target gland to determine if the gland is capable of normal hormone production.
-Suppression testing involves giving medications or substances to evaluate the body’s ability to suppress excessive hormone production.
Pituitary Disorders: Caused by
-Disease of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus
-Trauma
-Tumor
-Vascular lesion
-Over secretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland results in Cushing’s disease.
-Over secretion of GH results in gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults.
-Under secretion of GH in children results in dwarfism.
Acromegaly
(Pituitary disorder)
-Medications
–Octreotide (Sandostatin)-synthetic GH
–Parlodel (Permax)- dopamine agonist
-Therapeutic Measures
–Surgical removal of pituitary gland; surgery is generally the first treatment option.
–Replacement therapy will be needed following removal of the pituitary gland and may need needed following radiation therapy
—Corticosteroids
—Thyroid hormones
-Radiation therapy
Giantism
(Pituitary Disorder)
-Hypersecretion of GH with follow-up appointments prior to closure of growth plates.
–Proportional overgrowth in all body tissue
Diagnostic
–Procedures/Collaborative Care: same as acromegaly
Dwarfism
(Pituitary Disorder)
-Hypersecretion of GH during fetal development or childhood that results in limited growth congenital or result from damage to the pituitary gland.
–Manifestations
—Head and extremities are disproportionate to torso
Face may appear younger
—Short stature, slow or flat growth rate
—Progressive bowed legs and lordosis
–Delayed adolescence or puberty
Dwarfism Diagnostic Procedures
-Comparison of height/weight against growth charts, slowed growth rate will be noted
-Serum growth hormone level
–Most providers will also evaluate other hormonal levels to ensure that no secondary deficiencies exist
–MRI of the head (to assess pituitary gland)
Diabetes Insipidus
-Caused from a deficiency of ADH
–Reduces the ability of the distal renal tubules in the kidneys to collect and concentrate urine.
-Results in:
–Excessive diluted urination
–Excessive thirst
–Electrolyte imbalance
–Excessive fluid intake
Risk Factors of Diabetes Insipidus
-Head injury
-Tumor or lesion
-Surgery or irradiation near or around the pituitary gland
-Infection
-Meningitis
-Encephalitis
-Patients who are taking lithium carbonate or demeclocycline
DI: Clinical Findings
Polyuria
-abrupt onset of excessive urination
-urinary output of 4 to 30 L/day of dilute urine
-failure of the renal tubules to collect and reabsorb water
Polydipsia
-excessive thirst
-consumption of 2 to 20 L/day
-Nocturia
-Sunken eyes
-Tachycardia
-Hypotension
-Loss or absence of skin turgor
-Dry mucous membranes
Weak, poor peripheral pulses
-Weight loss, muscle weakness
-Headache, Dizziness, -Fatigue
-Constipation
DI: Lab Tests
-Electrolyte imbalances: such as increased sodium
-Urine chemistry: Think DILUTE.
Decreased urine specific gravity (less than 1.005)
Decreased urine osmolality (less than 200 mOsm/L)
Decreased urine pH
Decreased urine sodium
Decreased urine potassium
-As urine volume increases, urine osmolality decreases.
-Serum chemistry: Think CONCENTRATED
Increased serum osmolality (greater than 300 mOsm/L)
Increased serum sodium
Increased serum potassium
-As serum volume decreases, the serum osmolality increases.
Diagnostic Tests for Posterior Pituitary Gland
-The water deprivation test
Monitor body weight, hourly urine output.
-ADH
-Serum and urine electrolytes and osmolality
-Urine specific gravity
-MRI of hypothalamus and pituitary
-24-hour urine
Water Deprivation Test
-The expected reference range for osmolality is 285 to 295 mOsm/kg H2O.
-Osmolality increases with dehydration and decreases with over hydration, so it provides important information about fluid and electrolyte balance.
-Contraindications for this test include:
Renal insufficiency
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
Hypovolemia
Adrenal or thyroid hormone deficiency
Vasopressin Test
-This is an easy and reliable diagnostic test.
-Dehydration is induced by withholding fluids.
-A subcutaneous injection of vasopressin produces urine output with an increased specific gravity and osmolality.
-The test is positive for DI if the kidneys are unable to concentrate urine despite increased plasma osmolarity.
DI Medications
-Desmopressin acetate (DDAVP)
-Vasopressin (Pitressin)
-If DI is nephrogenic in origin, thiazide diuretics will be prescribed.
-Patient Education:
–Lifetime vasopressin replacement therapy
–Report weight gain or loss, polyuria, or polydipsia to the provider
–Monitor fluid intake and urine output
–Avoid foods with diuretic action
SIADH: Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone
-Excessive release of ADH, also known as vasopressin, secreted by the pituitary gland.
-Results in the inability to excrete an appropriate amount of urine thus developing fluid retention and dilutional hyponatremia.
-Leads to renal reabsorption of water causing renal excretion of sodium leading to:
–water intoxication
–cellular edema
–dilutional hyponatremia
SIADH Risk Factors
-Malignant tumors
-Increased intrathoracic pressure
-Head injury
-Meningitis
-Stroke
-Tuberculosis
-Medications
chemotherapy agents
SSRIs
Opioids
antibiotics