Endocrinology Flashcards
List the hormones released by the anterior pituitary gland
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinising hormone (LH)
Growth hormone (GH)
Prolactin
List the hormones released by the posterior pituitary gland
Oxytocin
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
What stimulates anterior pituitary to release TSH
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)
When does cortisol peak
In the morning
When is cortisol at its lowest
Late in the evening
List the actions of cortisol on the body
Inhibits the immune system
Inhibits bone formation
Raises blood glucose
Increases metabolism
Increases alertness
What does growth hormone stimulate the release of?
Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) from the liver
What are the actions of growth hormone
Stimulates muscle growth
Increases bone density and strength
Stimulates cell regeneration and reproduction
Stimulates growth of internal organs
What is parathyroid hormone released in response to
Low calcium
Low magnesium
High serum phosphate
What is the role of parathyroid hormone
Increase the serum calcium
Increases osteoclast activity - increases calcium reabsorption
Increases calcium reabsorption in kidney
Stimulates kidney to metabolise vitamin D into its active form calcitriol that promotes calcium absorption from the small intestine
What is renin
Released when there is low blood pressure
Enzyme that converts angiotensinogen into angiotensin 1
What happens to angiotensin 1
Converted into angiotensin 2 in lung by enzyme ACE
What does angiotensin 2 do?
Causes vasoconstriction
Increased BP
Aldosterone from adrenal glands
What does aldosterone do?
Mineralocorticoid steroid hormone which acts on the nephrons in the kidney to
- Increase sodium reabsorption from distal tubule - increase intravascular volume and increases BP
- Increase potassium secretion from distal tubule
- Increase hydrogen secretion from the collecting ducts
What is Cushing’s syndrome
Signs and symptoms thaqt develop after prolonged abnormal elevation of cortisol
What is Cushings disease
Pituitary adenoma secretes excessive ACTH
List some features of Cushings syndrome
- Round moon face
- Central obesity
- Abdominal striae
- Buffalo hump
- Proximal limb muscle wasting
- HTN
- Cardiac hypertrophy
- Hyperglycaemia
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Osteoporosis
- Easy bruising and poor skin healing
List some causes of Cushing’s syndrome
Exogenous steroids (prednisolone/glucocorticoids)
Cushing’s disease
Adrenal adenoma
Paraneoplastic Cushing’s - excess ACTH released from a cancer somewhere else - most common is small cell lung cancer causing ectopic ACTH
Describe the dexamethasone suppression test
Diagnose Cushing’s syndrome
Initially giving low dose test, if normal then Cushing’s excluded. If test is abnormal then high dose performed to distinguish cause
Dose of dexamethasone at night and their cortisol and ACTH is measured in the morning - find out if dexamethasone suppresses normal morning spike
Low dose - 1mg dexamethasone - dexamethasone suppresses release of cortisol is normal response. When cortisol not suppressed this is an abnormal result
High dose - 8mg, Cushings disease, pituitary shows response to negative feedback and this is enough the suppress the cortisol. Where there is adrenal adenoma the cortisol is not suppressed by ACTH is. Where there is ectopic ACTH, neither cortiosl or ACTH suppressed.
What is an alternative method of diagnosing Cushing syndrome to the dexamethasone suppression test?
24 hr urinary free cortisol
What investigations should be carried out if Cushing’s is suspected
Dexamethasone suppression test or 24hr urinary free cortisol
FBC - raised WCC
U&Es - potassium may be low if aldosterone also secreted by adrenal adenoma
MRI brain - pituitary adenoma
Chest CT - Small cell lung cancer
Abdominal CT - adrenal tumour
Describe the management of Cushing’s
Trans-sphenoidal removal of pituitary tumour
Surgical removal of adrenal tumour
Surgical removal of tumour producing ectopic ACTH
If surgical removal not possible, give replacement steroid hormones
What acid-base picture would be consistent with Cushing’s syndrome
Hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis
What is adrenal insufficiency
Where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones - cortisol and aldosterone