Endocrinology Flashcards
Hormone axis phisiology
See notes
Hyperthyroidism
High thyroid hormone (T3/4)
Primary - thyroid gland pathology
Secondary - thyroid gland stimulated by excessive TSH in circulation - pathology in hypothalamus / pituitary
Hyperthyroidism causes
Graves
- TSH receptor ABs bind to TSH receptors in thyroid
Toxic multinodular goitre
- nodules develop + produce TH
Solitary toxic nodule
- usually benign adenoma
Thyroiditis
- inflammation - often initial hyperthyroid, then hypo
- DeQuervain’s - transient inflammation of thyroid after viral infection
- Hashimoto’s
- Post-partum
- Drug-induced - amiodarone, iodine, lithium
Secondary
- TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas
- TH-resistance syndrome
- hCG-secreting tumour
- Gestational thyrotoxicosis
Hyperthyroidism Px
- anxiety, irritable, sweaty, heat intolerance, tachy, palpitations, wt loss, fatigue, insomnia, diarrhoea, sexual dysfunction, brisk reflexes, AF, high output HF in elderly
- palmar erythema, lid lag, stare, lid retraction, thin hair, onycholysis, ?nodules
- oligomenorrhoea +/- infertility
Graves
- diffuse goitre
- Graves ophthalmopathy - exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia
- pretibial myxoedema
- thyroid acropachy
Hyperthyroidism Ix
- TFTs - high T3/4, TSH low (high in 2ndary)
- Thyroid ABs - TSHR-Ab, TPO-Ab, TgAb
- CRP / ESR - thyroiditis
- baseline FBC, U/E
- US thyroid - if lump
- thyroid isotope scan
Hyperthyroidism Mx
- propranolol
- oral carbimazole, start high, titrate down, block-replace (add levo)
- propylthiouracil
- radioactive iodine
- subtotal / total thyroidectomy
Thyrotoxic crisis
- rapid T4 increase / release
- eg stress, infection, surgery, stopping anti-thyroid drugs
Px
- high temp, tachy, restless, delirium, coma, death
Mx
- IV fluids, corticosteroids, BBs, carbimazole / propylthiouracil
- potassium iodide (Lugol’s iodine)
Hypothyroidism
Low TH - T3/4
Primary - thyroid gland disease - T3/4 low, TSH high
Secondary - disease of hypothalamus / pituitary - T3/4 low, TSH low
Hypothyroidism causes
- Hashimoto’s - autoimmune inflammation, anti-TPO / anti-Tg ABs - IDDM, Addisons, pernicious anaemia associations (goitre then atrophy)
- Post-partum
- iatrogenic
- drug - carbimazole / PTU, lithium (goitre), amiodarone
- iodine deficiency
- congenital / infiltration
- secondary - tumour, surgery, radio, Sheehan’s, trauma
- Riedel’s - dense fibrous tissue (hard fixed painless goitre)
Hypothyroidism Px
- wt gain, fatigue, cold intolerance
- dry skin, coarse hair, hair loss
- fluid retention - non-pitting oedema, pleural effusions, ascites
- menorrhagia, oligomenorrhoea
- goitre
- decreased deep tendon reflexes, carpal tunnel syndrome, bradycardia, ataxia, hoarse voice, low mood
Hypothyroidism Ix
- TFTs
- thyroid ABs - anti-TPO, anti-Tg
- FBC - anaemia
Hypothyroidism Mx
- levothyroxine
Myxoedema coma
- severe hypothyroidism
Px
- confusion, coma, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia
Mx
- T3/4 replacement (T3 causes arrhythmias)
- IV glucose
- hydrocortisone if needed
- fluids / supportive care
Cushing’s syndrome
excess cortisol
Cushing’s causes
ACTH dependent (high)
- Cushing’s disease - ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma + bl adrenal hyperplasia
- Ectopic ACTH - sg SCLC - paraneoplastic
ACTH independent (low)
- Exogenous steroids
- adrenal adenoma
Cushing’s Px
- round moon face, central obesity, proximal limb muscle wasting
- abdo striae, buffalo hump, hirsutism, acne, bruising, poor skin healing, osteoporosis
- hyperpigmentation - with high ACTH
- metabolic - HTN, T2DM, lipids,
- mental health - anxiety, depression, insomnia, psychosis rarely
Pseudo-cushing’s
- mimics cushings
- often from alcohol excess
- false positive on dex suppression test / 24hr urinary free cortisol
- insulin stress test to differentiate
Cushing’s Ix
- Bloods - hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis, impaired glucose tolerance
Dexamethasone suppression test
- high 9am cortisol after dex administration
- low dose test - high cortisol -> Cushing’s syndrome
- high dose test -> high cortisol - adrenal adenoma / ectopic ACTH
- ACTH levels
- 24hr urinary free cortisol
- midnight + waking salivary cortisol
- CT / MRI adrenals / pituitary / TAP
Cushing’s Mx
- stop steroids
- Cushing’s - transsphenoidal resection of adenoma
- Adrenal adenoma - adrenalectomy
- adrenal carcinoma - surgery / radio / mitotane
- ectopic ACTH - surgery / metyrapone / ketoconazole
Nelson’s syndrome
- increased skin pigmentation from high ACTH from enlarging pituitary tumour - after adrenalectomy - removes -ve feedback
Hyperaldosteronism
excess aldosterone
Primary
- excess aldosterone independent of RAAS, renin low
Secondary
- high renin levels -> high aldosterone
Hyperaldosteronism causes
Primary
- Adrenal adenoma - Conn’s syndrome
- bl adrenocortical hyperplasia (more common)
Secondary
- reduced renal perfusion - eg RAS, HTN, diuretics, CCF, liver cirrhosis, ascites
Hyperaldosteronism Px
- asym
- HTN, headaches, flushing
- metabolic alkalosis - H secretion
- hypokalaemia - weakness, cramps, paraesthesia, polyuria, polydipsia, constipation, arrhythmias
Hyperaldosteronism Ix
- U/E - low K, high Na
- Aldosterone to renin ratio - high aldosterone, low renin in primary- first line
- ECG
- CT / MRI adrenals
- renal artery imaging - eg doppler, angiography
- adrenal vein sampling - which adrenal gland is producing more aldosterone
Hyperaldosteronism Mx
- oral spironolactone for bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia
- laparoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenal adenoma
Adrenal insufficiency (AI)
Primary - low cortisol + aldosterone from adrenal cortex impairment
Secondary - low cortisol from low ACTH - pituitary / hypothalamus damage
Tertiary - lack of CRH from hypothalamus - suppression of HPA axis from exogenous steroids
AI causes
Primary
- worldwide - TB
- UK - Addison’s disease - autoimmune destruction
- mets, trauma
Secondary
- long-term steroid use
- hypothalamic / pituitary disease - tumour, trauma, surgery, sheehans…
AI Px
- tanned, toned, tired, tearful
- fatigue, muscle weakness, cramps, dizziness, fainting, thirst, wt loss, abdo pain, N+V, depression, reduced libido, vitiligo, bronze hyperpigmentation, postural hypotension
AI Ix
- bloods - low Na, high K, low glucose, high Ca, dehydration (raised urea / creatinine)
- short synacthen test - failure of cortisol to rise after synacthen
- ACTH levels
- adrenal ABs - adrenal cortex ABs, 21-hydroxylase ABs
- CT / MRI adrenals
- MRI pituitary
AI Mx
- hydrocortisone (double when ill)
- fludrocortisone
- steroid card, ID tag, IM hydrocortisone
Adrenal crisis
- acute severe adrenal insufficiency - eg infection, trauma
Px
- low GCS, hypotension, low BMs, low Na, high K
Mx
- IM/IV hydrocortisone, IV fluids, IV dextrose
Acromegaly
- excess GH - stimulates skeletal / soft tissue growth
- pituitary adenoma
- other tumours - lung / pancreas - paraneoplastic
Acromegaly Px
- headache, bitemporal hemianopia
- frontal bossing
- coarse, sweaty skin
- large nose, ears
- macroglossia
- widely spaced teeth
- large hands, feet - acral enlargement
- large jaw - prognathism
- acroparaesthesia
- decreased libido
- fatigue
- also - hypertrophic heart, HTN, T2DM, CTS, arthritis, colorectal cancer, OSA, galactorrhoea, amenorrhoea
Acromegaly Ix
- IGF-1 - raised
- OGTT - high GH after glucose
- MRI pituitary
- test visual fields, acuity
- ECG, ECHO
Acromegaly Mx
- transsphenoidal resection of adenoma
- IM octreotide
- SC pegvisomant
- Bromocriptine
T1DM
Autoimmune destruction of beta cells in pancreas leading to lack of insulin production
T1DM Px
- asym
- DKA
- polyuria
- polydipsia
- wt loss- asym
- DKA
- polyuria
- polydipsia
- wt loss
T1DM Ix
- cap BMs
- urine dip - glucose, ketones
Serum blood glucose
- fasting >7, IGT 6.1-6.9
- random >11.1, IGT 7.8-11
- if asym - meet criteria on 2 separate occasions
HbA1c (not helpful in T1DM)
- >6.5% (48) - rpt if asym
- IGT (42-48)
OGTT
- >11.1 2hrs after 75g glucose - diagnostic
- consider c-peptide, auto-ABs
T1DM Mx
- monitor HbA1c every 3-6mo
- self-monitor BMs - before every meal / bed - 5-7 on waking, 4-7 before meals
S/C insulin
- basal-bolus regime
- insulin pumps
- pancreas transplant
- FreeStyle libre
- closed loop system
T1DM sick day rules
- Don’t stop insulin
- Check BMs more frequently
- Consider checking ketones
- Maintain normal meal pattern if possible - carb drinks if necessary
- Drink plenty fluids
T1DM Cx
- insulin - hypos, lipohypertrophy, wt gain
Macrovascular
- atherosclerosis, stroke, IHD, PVD
Microvascular
- diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, infections
Acute
- DKA, HHS, hypos
VRIII / sliding scale
- to control BMs
- actrapid infusion in one arm
- infusion 5% dextrose + KCl in other arm
- stop OHAs, short acting insulins, pre-mixed insulins
- continue long-acting insulins
Indications
- no oral intake
- vomiting
- NBM
- severe illness, eg sepsis
more details in notes….
Prescribing insulin
Who needs
- T1DM
- DKA
- OHAs not enough
Calculating TDD
- total no units over 24hrs on VRIII
- 0.5units/kg/24hrs
- start on small dose - 6-8 units long-acting / mixed, 4-6 units short acting with meals
How to split
- long acting only - extra boost
- mixed BD insulin - eg T2DM
- basal-bolus - eg T1DM
T2DM
increased insulin resistance and decreased production, leading to persistent hyperglycaemia
RFs
- non-modifiable - older age, Black / South Asian, FHx
- modifiable - obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high sugar diet
T2DM Px
- asym
- fatigue
- polyuria, polydipsia
- wt loss
- opportunistic infections - eg oral thrush
- slow wound healing
- acanthosis nigricans
T2DM Ix
- cap BM, urine dip
Serum blood glucose
- fasting >7, IGT 6.1-6.9
- random >11.1, IGT 7.8-11
- if asym - meet criteria on 2 separate occasions
HbA1c
- >6.5% (48) - rpt if asym
- IGT 42-48)
- measure every 3-6mo, aim for 48 in new dx, or 52 if on 1+ med that might cause hypoglycaemia (eg sulfonylurea)
OGTT
- >11.1 2hrs after 75g glucose - diagnostic
- bloods, FBC, U/E, LFTs etc
T2DM Mx overall
- diet (eg low glycaemic index), exercise, wt loss
- HTN - ramipril (if black - ARB)
- atorvastatin 20mg if QRISK >10%, 80mg if pre-existing disease
- oral hypoglycaemic agents
- insulin
OHAs
1st - metformin, add SGLT-2 if CVD / QRISK
2nd - add sulfonylurea / pioglitazone / DPP4 inhibitor / SGLT-2 inhibitor
3rd - triple therapy metformin + 2 second line drugs / insulin therapy / switch one drug to GLP-1 mimetic
…see notes for more details…
T2DM Mx 1st line
- metformin - titrate up slowly, modified release if GI sx
- if CVD / HF / QRISK>10% - add SGLT-2 inhibitor (add at any point if these develop)
if metformin CI’d
- SGLT-2 (if CVD/HF/QRISK)
- or DPP4/pioglitazone/sulfonylurea
T2DM Mx 2nd line
- add 2nd drug if HbA1c rises to 58
- continue metformin
- add sulfonylurea / pioglitazone / DPP4 / SGLT-2 (criteria)
T2DM Mx 3rd line
Triple therapy
- Metformin + DPP4 + sulfonylurea
- Metformin + pioglitazone + sulfonylurea
- Metformin + pioglitazone/sulfonylurea/DPP4 + SGLT-2 (if criteria met)
Insulin therapy
- consider if HbA1c>58 after >3mo dual oral therapy - humulin 1, continue metformin
T2DM further mx
If triple therapy fails and BMI>35, or if BMI<35 and insulin not suitable:
- Switch one drug to GLP-1 mimetic - only continue if reduction of >11 (1%) in HbA1c and weight loss >3% in 6mo
- Only add to insulin under specialist care
T2DM sick day rules
- Some OHAs may be stopped, restart once feeling better
- Metformin - stop if risk of dehydration
- Sulfonylureas - increase hypo risk
- SGLT-2 - check ketones
- GLP-1 - stop if dehydrated
- Monitor BMs more
DVLA DM
Group 1
- insulin - can drive if has hypo awareness, <1 bad hypo in last 12mo, no visual impairment
- tablets - no need to notify DVLA
- diet controlled - no need to notify
Group 2 must meet
- no severe hypos <12mo
- control of condition, monitoring etc
- understand hypo risks
- no cx of DM
DM ramadam
- Try to eat meal with long-acting carbs prior to sunrise (Suhoor)
- Use BM monitor
- If taking metformin - 1/3 dose before sunrise, 2/3 after sunset (Iftar)
- Switch OD sulfonylureas to after sunset
- If taking BD gliclazide - take larger proportion of dose after sunset
- No adjustments for pioglitazone
Diabetic neuropathy
- Glove + stocking sensory loss
- If painful - neuropathic pain meds, pain clinic
Also GI autonomic neuropathy
- Gastroparesis - erratic blood control, bloating, vomiting, Mx with metoclopramide, domperidone, erythromycin
- Chronic diarrhoea
- GORD
Diabetic foot disease
- from neuropathy / PAD
- loss of sensation, absent foot pulses, reduced ABPI
- calluses, ulcers, Charcot’s arthropathy, cellulitis, osteomyelitis,
- screen annually - palpate pulses, 10g monofilament
Biguanides - metformin
- reduce gluconeogenesis, increase insulin sensitivity
S/Es
- D+V
- lactic acidosis
When to stop
- not E+D
- AKI
- raised lactate
- before IV contrast
SGLT-2 inhibitors - cana/empa/dapa-gliflozin
- inhibit glucose resorption, increase urinary glucose loss
S/Es
- genital candidiasis, Fournier’s gangrene, UTIs
- increased UO, freq
- wt loss, DKA / EKA (stop on admission to hospital)
Thiazolidinediones / glitazones - pioglitazone, rosiglitazone
- increase insulin sensitivity, decrease liver glucose production
S/Es
- wt gain, fluid retention, HF, liver impairment
- bladder Ca risk
- fracture risk
Sulfonylureas - gliclazide, glimepiride
- stimulate insulin secretion from pancreas
S/Es
- wt gain
- hypos
- hyponatremia
Meglitanides work the same
DPP4 inhibitors - sita/lina/saxa-gliptin
- enhance incretin effect (increased insulin response to oral glucose) - increase insulin, lower glucagon
S/Es
- nausea, headaches
- pancreatitis
GLP-1 agonists - exanatide, liraglutide
- injectable S/C - increase incretin effect
S/Es
- nausea, GI sx, reduced appetite
- pancreatitis, AKI, wt loss
DKA
- diabetic emergency of high ketones, high BMs, acidosis
- lack of insulin, no glucose uptake, body starved, converts lipids into ketones - dissolve into blood, dehydration from this (also vomiting, glucose secretion in kidneys)
- eg first px of T1DM, missing insulin dose, stress (surgery / infection)
DKA Px
- pear drop breath
- Kussmaul’s respiration
- reduced LOC
- vomiting
- abdo pain
- dehydration - dry mucous membranes, slow CRT, tachycardia, hypotension
DKA Ix
- bloods - BMs, ketones, VBG, FBC, U/E, CRP, LFTs, ?cultures, lab BM
- Dx - BM>11, ketones>3, pH<7.3
- urine dip ketones
- look for infection source, eg CXR
DKA Mx
- Fluids - IV 0.9% NaCl
- insulin infusion - actrapid 0.1units/kg/hr
- glucose - 10% dextrose 125ml/hr once BM<14
- Potassium - 40mmol/L KCl if 3.5-5.5
- infection - tx cause
- chart fluid balance
- ketones, pH, bicarb - monitoring
DKA Cx
- cerebral oedema
- pulmonary oedema
- cardiac arrhythmias, hypokalaemia
- ARDS, AKI etc
HHS
- hyperglycaemia, hyperosmolality, no ketosis
- results in osmotic diuresis, severe dehydration, electrolyte deficiencies
- potential causes - illness, dementia, sedative drugs, MI, surgery
HHS Px
- sx onset over days
- dehydration
- polyuria, polydipsia
- lethargy
- N+V
- altered consciousness
- focal neurology
- hyperviscous blood -> MI, stroke, peripheral arterial thrombosis
HHS Ix
Bloods
- FBC, U/E, glucose, VBG, CRP, cultures etc
- high osmolarity >320 (2xNa + glucose + urea)
- high glucose >33
- no ketones, low K/Mg, hypo/hypernatraemia, normal anion gap, pH >7.3
- ix cause, eg CXR
Dx criteria
- Serum osmolarity >320
- Serum glucose >33
- Profound dehydration (elevated urea:creatinine ratio)
- No ketoacidosis
HHS Mx
- 0.9% NaCl - 0.5-1l/hr
- correct electrolytes
- insulin - give if BM stops falling with fluids
- LMWH for VTE prophylaxis
Hypoglycaemia
BM <4
Hypoglycaemia causes
EXogenous drugs - insulin, OHAs, alcohol, quinine, quinolones
Pituitary insufficiency - no GH/cortisol
Liver failure - no glycogen stores
Adrenal failure - no cortisol
Insulinomas / immune hypoglycaemia
Non-pancreatic neoplasms
Hypoglycaemia Px
Adrenergic
- sweating, palpitations, tremor, anxiety/irritable, hunger, feel cold
Neuroglycopenic
- confusion, dizziness, tingling, blurred vision, slurred speech, headache, N+V, seizure, coma
- fatigue, weakness
Hypoglycaemia Ix
- CBG
- ix for cause…
Insulin vs C-peptide level