Endocrine HTN/Hypoglycemia (pathophys) Flashcards
HTN symptoms
Usually silent
Headache, blurred vision when symptomatic
Hypokalemia symptoms
Muscle weakness, cramping
3 major endocrine causes of HTN
- Hyperaldosteronism
- Pheochromocytoma
- Cushing’s syndrome
All pt’s with cushings syndrome likely to be what
Obese
What do you need to measure to check for hyperaldosteronism? Why
Renin and aldosterone levels
Need both to dx primary vs secondary (low renin indicates primary via feedback inhibition)
What does saline do in normal pt’s vs hyperaldosterone pt’s
Will lower aldosterone in healthy patients (inc. volume status)
Wont lower in hyperaldosteronism
2 major causes of hyperaldosteronism
- Pituitary adenoma
2. Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
Triad of pheochromocytoma symptoms
Sweating, Headaches, palpitations
what will 24 hour urine catecholamine test show in pheochromocytoma patients
Elevated corticoids and elevated epi
Who doesn’t normally get hypoglycemia
Untreated diabetic patients and non-diabetics
Hypoglycemia is almost always caused by?
Treatment in diabetics
Causes of hypoglycemia in non-diabetic patients
- Severe organ failure (liver, kidney, sepsis)
- Insulinomas
- Factitious (intentional)
What blood sugar defines hypoglycemia
Less than 70
What determines severe hypoglycemia
When pt’s need help (i.e can’t correct blood sugar themselves)
What is pseudohypoglycemia
Symptoms of hypoglycemia with normal blood sugar
Usually from rebound of pt’s who recently had hypoglycemic episode
Major causes of hypoglycemic related death
- Increased QT intervals (poss acquired long QT syndrome)
2. Activates pro inflammatory mechanisms
Most common cause of hypoglycemia in diabetics? other causes?
Unusual exercise
Also missed meals and alcohol abuse (impairs liver gluconeogenesis)
What does recurrent hypoglycemia cause
Syndrome of impaired response to hypoglycemia
Will have impairment of epi release
