Endocrinology Flashcards
What results in tertiary endocrine gland disease?
Disorder of the hypothalamus
What results in secondary endocrine gland disease?
Disorder of the anterior pituitary
What results in primary endocrine gland disease?
Disorder of the endocrine gland (thyroid, gonads, adrenal cortex)
What is hypopituitarism?
A decreased production of all anterior pituitary hormones or the decreased production of specific hormones
What is panhypopituitarism?
Decreased production of all anterior pituitary hormones
What causes panhypopituitarism?
It is rare.
Caused by congenital defects.
Very rare causes are gene mutations such as the PROP 1 gene.
In adults, in what order is there often progressive loss of pituitary secretion?
Progressive loss of pituitary secretion often in the following order:
- Gonadotrophins (LH and FSH)
- GH
- Thyrotrophin
- Corticotrophin
- Prolactin deficiency is uncommon
What causes Simmond’s disease?
Panhypopituitarism. Variety of causes including:- - Infiltrative processes (e.g. lymphocytic) - Pituitary adeomas - Craniopharyngiomas - Cranial injury - Following surfery
What are the symptoms of simmond’s disease?
Symptoms are usually due to decreased thyroidal, adrenal and gonadal function
Symptoms:
- Secondary amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea (women?
- Impotence (men)
- Loss of libido
- Tiredness
- Waxy skin
- Loss of body hair
- Hypotension
What is sheehan’s syndrome?
Panhypopituitarism.
It is specific in women and develops acutely following post-partum haemorrhage. Results in pituitary infarction.
The blood loss causes vasoconstrictor spasm of hypophysial arteries which leads to:
- Ischaemia of pituitary (enlarged during pregnancy), and then
- Necrosis of pituitary
What is pituitary apoplexy?
- A similar intra-pituitary haemorrhage or infarction
- Often presents dramatically in patients with pre-existing pituitary tumours which suddenly infarct
How is hypopituitarism diagnosed?
- Stimulation ( ‘provocation’) test.
- It can be used as a combined function test with involves rapid IV sequential administration of GHRH, CRH, GnRH and TRH
- For GH, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia can be used
- Basal plasma values of pituitary or target endocrine gland hormones are useful if measured after a stimulation test
- What is hypo-adreno-corticalism?
A lack of corticotrophin (ACTH)
loss of glucocorticoids
What is the effect of a lack of somatotrophin in children?
Pituitary dwarfism (short stature)
What is the effect of a lack of somatotrophin in adults?
Loss of GH though the effects are uncertain
What causes short stature in children?
- Genetic determination
- Malnutrition
- Emotional deprivation
- Endocrine disorders
- Other causes (various, often unknown)
What are the congenital causes of GH deficiency in children? (rare)
- Deficiency of hypothalamic GHRH
- Mutations of GH gene (very rare)
- Developmental abnormalities (e.g. aplasia or hypoplasia of pituitary)
What are the acquired causes of GH deficiency in children? (common)
- Tumours of hypothalamus or pituitary
- Other intracranial tumours nearby (e.g. optic nerve glioma)
- Secondary to cranial irradiation
- Head injury
- Infection or inflammation
- Severe psychosocial deprivation
What are examples of GnRH deficiency? (tertiary hypopituitarism)
Kallmann’s syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome
What are the types of GH provocation tests?
GHRH (IV) Insulin (IV) Arginine (IV) Glucagon (IM) Exercise Measure GH at specific time points
What is the principle aim when treating pituitary deficiencies?
To restore homeostasis by replacing the missing hormones
When ACTH is deficient, what is checked and which hormone is used as a replacement?
Check: Serum cortisol
Replacement: Hydrocortisone
When TSH is deficient, what is checked and which hormone is used as a replacement?
Check: Serum T3
Replacement: Thyroxine
When LH/FSH is deficient in women, what is checked and which hormone is used as a replacement?
Check: Oestrogen deficiency, libido
Replacement: Ethinyloestradiol, Medroxyprogesterone
When LH/FSH is deficient in men, what is checked and which hormone is used as a replacement?
Check: Libido, serum testosterone
Replacement: Testosterone undecanoate
When GH is deficient, what is checked and which hormone is used as a replacement?
Check: IGF1, growth chart
Replacement: GH
What is seen in growth hormone therapy in children?
- Acceleration of linear growth: decreased body fat
- The effects are most marked in the first year of treatment
- Younger children respond better
- Obese children response better
- Resistance can develop (antibody formation)
- If more generalised pituitary deficiency, other hormones need to be given
How is growth hormone therapy prepared and administered?
Preparation: Human recombinant GH (Somatototrophin is the approved name)
Administration:
- Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection
- Daily or 4-5 times/week pm
- Adjust dose to size
What is the absorption and distribution of growth hormone therapy?
Maximal plasma concentration in 2-6 hours
What is the metabolism of growth hormone therapy?
Hepatic or renal
Short half life of 20 minutes
What is the duration of action of growth hormone therapy?
- It last well beyond clearance
- Peak IGF1 levels at approximately 20 hours
What are the adverse affects of growth hormone therapy?
- Lipoatrophy at injection site
- Intracranial hypertension
- Headaches
- Increased incidence of leukaemia
What are the signs and symptoms of GH deficiency in adults?
- Reduced lean mass, increased adiposity, increased waist:hip ratio
- Reduced muscle strength and bulk. Reduced exercise performance.
- Decreased plasma HDL-cholesterol and raised LDL cholesterol
- Impaired ‘psychological well being’ and reduced quality of life’
Over what age does GH production tend to decrease?
60
How is GH deficiency in adults diagnosed?
- Lack of response to GH stimulation test (e.g. to insulin)
- Low plasma IGF1
- Low plasma IGF-BP3
What are the potential benefits of GH therapy in adults?
- Improved body composition
- Improved muscle strength and exercise capacity
- Normalisation of HDL cholesterol
- Increased bone mineral content
- Improved psychological well being and quality of life
What are the potential risks of GH therapy in adults?
- Increase risk of cardiovascular accidents
- Increased soft tissue growth which could lead to issues such as cardiomegaly
- Increased susceptibility to cancer
What is hyperpituitarism?
- It is usually due to isolated pituitary tumours but can also be ectopic (non-endocrine tissue) in origin
- Can often be associated with visual field and other defects
What is bitemporal hemianopia?
It occurs when the growth of a suprasellar tumour pressed onto the optic chiasm, causing a lesion which damages the optic nerves.
The temporal visual paths are disrupted: loss of peripheral vision
What can excess corticotropin (ACTH) result in?
Cushing’s disease
What can excess thyrotrophin result in?
Thyrotoxicosis
What can excess gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) result in?
Precocious puberty in children
What can excess prolactin result in?
Hyperprolactinaemia
What can excess somatotrophin (GH) result in?
In childhood: Gigantism
In adulthood: Acromegaly
What is hyperprolactinaemia?
Excess circulating prolactin that is not due to a physiological cause such as pregnancy or breast feeding.
It is usually due to prolactinoma (often microadenomas
What is seen in women with hyperprolactinaemia due to a pituitary adenoma?
- Galactorrhea (milk production)
- Secondary amenorrhoea (or oligomenorrhoea)
- Loss of libido
- Infertility
What is seen in men with hyperprolactinaemia due to a pituitary adenoma?
- Loss of libido
- Impotence
- Infertility
Why are untreated gigantism and acromegaly associated with an increased morbidity and mortality?
Due to cardiovascular and/or respiratory complications
How can the onset of acromegaly be described?
Slow and Insidious
What shows increased growth in acromegaly?
- Periosteal bone
- Cartilage
- Fibrous tissue
- Connective tissue
- Internal organs (cardiomegaly, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly etc)
What are the metabolic effects of acromegaly?
- Increased plasma insulin response to oral glucose load
- Increase insulin resistance
- Impaired glucose tolerance test (50% patients)
- Diabetes mellitus (10% patients)
What are the common clinical manifestations of acromegaly?
- Enlargement of supraorbital ridges and nose, hands and feet, thickening of lips and general coarseness of features
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Mandible grows, leading to protrusion of lower jaw (prognathism)
- Carpal tunnel syndrom: joint pain
- Barrel chest, curvature of spine (kyphosis)
- Menstrual abnormalities, decreased libido and impotence
- Galactorrhea in women (uncommon in men)
- Hypertension
- Abnormal glucose tolerance, symptoms of diabetes mellitus
What type of tests are used to diagnose pituitary overactivity?
Suppression tests
What are the treatment options for acromegaly?
- Surgery (transphenoidal)
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy (somatostatin analogues e.g. octreotide and dopamine agonists e.g. bromocriptine)
What are the clinical used of octreotide?
- Short term treatment before pituitary surgery
- Long term treatment in those not controlled by other means
- Treatment of other neuroendocrine tumours e.g. carcinoid tumours
How is octreotide administered?
- Subcutaneously or intramuscular 3 times per day
- Depot preparation once GH levels are under control
- Adjust dose according to need
How is octreotide distributed?
It is retained in the extracellular fluid
What is the metabolism of octreotide?
Hepatic or renal
Half life of 2- 4 hours
What are the adverse side effects of octreotide?
- GI tract disturbances
- Initial reduction in insulin secretion: transient hyperglycaemia
- Gallstones are rare
Why are dopamine receptor agonists used to treat hyperprolactinaemia?
- Decrease prolactin (and GH) secretion
- Reduce the size of the tumour
Examples are bromocriptine and cabergoline
What is bromocriptine?
A dopamine receptor agonist.
- Administered by mouth (1/day)
- Highly plasma protein bound (93%)
- Hepatic metabolism
- Half life= 7 hours
What are the adverse effects of bromocriptine?
- Nausea/vomiting and abdominal cramps
- Psychomotor excitation
- Postural hypotension
- Vasospasm in fingers and toes (caution Raynaud’s disease)
Aside from treating hyperprolactinaemia, what are the other uses of bromocriptine?
- Supression of lactation
- Cyclical benign breast tumours
- Acromegaly
- Parkinson’s disease
What is the mode of action for cabergoline?
DA2 receptor agonist
What are the pharmacokinetics of cabergoline?
Oral, 1-2 times per week
- Half life: > 45 hours
What are the unwanted effects of cabergoline?
Same as bromocriptine but are less pronounced
- Nausea/vomiting and abdominal cramps
- Psychomotor excitation
- Postural hypotension
- Vasospasm in fingers and toes (caution Raynaud’s disease)
What are the principle actions of vasopressin?
Antidiuretic effect.
How does vasopressin act on the renal and cortical medullary collecting ducts?
Acts on V2 receptors and stimulates the synthesis and insertion of aquaporin 2 into the apical membranes of the principle cells.
Aquaporin 2 increases water transport from the tubular fluid into the general circulation which increases the amount of water that is retained in the body
What is the effect of vasopressin when interacting with V1a receptors?
Vasoconstrictor activity
What is the effect of vasopressin when interacting with V1b receptors?
Corticotrophin (ACTH) release
What are other effects of vasopressin when interacting with V2 receptors?
V2 receptors are involved in the production of Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor.
This means it has an important role in blood clotting
What are the principle actions of oxytocin?
- Constriction of myometrium at parturition
- Milk ejection reflex
- Central effects
What is the result of a lack of oxytocin and vasopressin?
Lack of oxytocin: parturition and milk ejection effects are induced by other means
Lack of vasopressin: Diabetes insipidus
What are the differences between central diabetes insipidus and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
Central: absence of lack of circulating vasopressin
Nephrogenic: End-organ (kidneys) resistance to vasopressin
What are the causes of central diabetes insipidus?
Damage to the neurohypophysial system: e.g.
- Injury to the neurohypophysis
- Surgery
- Cerebral thrombosis
- Tumours (intrasellar and suprasellar)
- Granulomatous infiltrations of median eminence
It can be idiopathic or familial (rare)
What are the causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
1) Familial - rare (e.g. receptor defects)
2) Drugs (e.g. lithium, demethyl chlortetracylcine DMCT)
What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes insipidus?
- Large volumes of urine (polyuria)
- Urine is very dilute (hypo-osmolar)
- Thirst and increased drinking (polydipsia)
- Dehydration (and consequences) if fluid intake not maintained
- Possible disruption to sleep associated problems
- Possible electrolyte imbalance
What are the pattern of events seen in diabetes insipidus?
1) Lack of vasopressin
2) Polyuria
3) Increase in plasma osmolarity (Na+)
4) Reduction in ECF volume
5) Stimulation of osmoreceptors
6) Thirst centre
7) Polydipsia
8) Replacement of ECF volume ( usually this switches off vasopressin, but as there isn’t any the cycle will repeat)
What is the normal (hydrated) range of plasma osmolality?
280 mOsm.kg H2O-1
270-290
What is the range of plasma osmolality in diabetes insipidus?
> 290 mOsm.kg H2O-1
What is the range of plasma osmolality in poldypsia?
What is psychogenic polydipsia?
A central disturbance creates the sensation of third therefore leads to increased drinking (polydipsia). This leads to the expansion of extracellular fluid volume and a decrease in plasma osmolality.
An increase in urine excretion which leads to a reduction of extracellular fluid volume, increasing plasma osmolality.
This combined with the central disturbance increases a sensation of thirst thus causes the cycle of events
What is seen when a fluid deprivation test is done on a healthy person?
Fluid deprivation should increase plasma osmolarity. This will increase vasopressin and the urine produced should be more concentrated
What is seen when a fluid deprivation test is done on a patient with psychogenic polydipsia?
As there is a normal vasopressin system, the urine can be concentrated though not as well as in a healthy person.
This is due to the kidneys becoming used to driven in such a way that the urea is lost in the kidneys therefore gradually, the concentrating ability is lost
What is seen when a fluid deprivation test is done on a patient with diabetes insipidus?
There is no functioning vasopressin system.
Their is no means of concentrating urine which results in extreme dehydration. There is a risk of coma and death if the patient is not rehydrated.
What test differentiates between central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
DDAVP administration test.
Central: there is a lack of vasopressin. Replacing the vasopressin will reverse the effects, thus increase urine concentration
Nephrogenic: There is no lack of vasopressin, but a lack of a functioning receptor system so replacing vasopressin with DDAVP will have no effect
What is the stimulation with intravenous hypertonic saline test?
A more rapid test which is used to distinguish cranial diabetes insipidus from normal patients, polydipsics or nephrogenics.
An infusion with hypertonic saline causes a rapid increase in plasma osmolarity which initiates the normal vasopressin release.
In central diabetes insipidus, the patient cannot secrete vasopressin therefore there is no response
What is Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
When plasma vasopressin concentration is inappropriate for the existing plasma osmolarity.
How does increased vasopressin lead to SIADH?
- Excess vasopressin leads to increased water reabsorption
- Decreased plasma osmolality (hyponatraemia)
- Decreased urine volume
- Compensatory ‘escape’ phenomenon. The body tries to compensate by making more urine (natriuresis) to restore urine output but this further decreases sodium.
What are the signs of SIADH?
- Raised urine osmolality, decreased volume (initially)
- Decreased p[Na+] (hyponatraemia) mainly due to increased water reabsorption
What are the symptoms of SIADH?
- Can have no symptoms
- If p[Na+] is less than 120mM there is generalised weakness, poor mental function and nausea
- If p[Na+] is less than 110 mM, there is confusion leading to coma and ultimately death
What are the causes of SIADH?
- Tumours (ectopic secretion)
- Neurohypophysial malfunction (e.g. meningitis, cerebrovascular disease)
- Thoracic disease (e.g. pneumonia)
- Endocrine disease (e.g. Addison’s disease)
- Physiological i.e. non-osmotic stimuli (e.g. hypovolaemia, pain, surgery)
- Drugs, e.g. chlopropamide)
- Idiopathic
How is SIADH treated?
- Once the cause has been identified (e.g. tumour) then appropriate treatment (e.g. surgery) is applied
- To reduce immediate concern, (i.e. hyponatraemia)
1) Immediate: fluid restriction
2) Longer-term: use drugs which prevent vasopressin action in the kidneys e.g. lithium, di-methyl-chlor-tetracycline (and V2 receptor antagonists)
Where are responses to exogenous vasopressin (argipressin) seen?
- All vasopressin receptors are activated V1: - Vascular smooth muscle - Non vascular smooth muscle - Anterior pituitary - Liver - Platelets - CNS
V2:
- Kidney
- Endothelial cells
What are the the pharmacological actions of argipressin-1?
Natriuresis:
- V2 mediated however the mechanism is unclear
- Evident only in high doses
- May contribute to hyponatraemia
What are the pharmacological actions of argipressin-2?
Pressor action:
- V1 mediated
- effect of vascular smooth muscle
- Not all beds are equally sensitive
- Effect on coronary vessel are important (may cause cardiac ischaemia or anginal attacks)
Give example of selective vasopressin receptor peptidiergic agonists
V1 receptors: Terlipressin
V2 receptors: Desmopressin (DDAVP)
What are the clinical uses of desmopressin?
- Central diabetes insipidus
- Nocturnal enuresis
- Haemophilia
How is desmopressin administered?
Nasally and orally
What is the effect of oral desmopressin?
Oral desmopressin produces a prompt sustained decrease in urine volume and an increase in urine osmolarity
How is desmopressin distrubited and what is its metabolism?
Distrubition: Retained in extraceullar fluid
Metabolsim: hepatic/ renal- half life of about 5 hours
What are the unwanted effects of desmopressin?
- Fluid retention and hyponatraemia
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Nausea
What are the clinical uses of V1 receptor agonists?
Terlipressin: Oesophageal varices
Felypressin: To prolong the action of local anaesthetics
How is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus treated?
- Thiazides e.g. bendroflumethiazide
Possible mechanism: - Inhibits Na+/Cl- transport in distal convoluted tubule (leading to diuretic effect)
- Volume depletion
- Compensatory increase in Na+ reabsorption from the proximal tubule (plus a small decrease in GFR) etc
- Increased proximal water reabsorption
- Decreased fluid reaches collecting duct
- Reduced urine volume
What are Vaptans?
Non- preptide vasopressin analogues use in the treatment of SIADH.
e.g. TOLVAPTAN (V2 receptor antagonist) is used for the treatment of hyponatraemia associated with SIADH
May be useful is treating congestive heart disease and other conditions
How does nicotine affect vasopressin secretion?
Increases secretion
What drugs decrease vasopressin secretion?
Alcohol
Glucocorticoids
What are the clinical features of hypothyroidism?
- Dry and brittle hair
- Lethargy, memory impairment and depression
- Oedema of face and eyes
- Think tongue, slow speech
- Deepening voice
- Cold intolerance, diminished perspiration
- Cardiomegaly, poor heart sounds, hypertension
- Weight gain with reduced appetite and ascites
- Constipation
- Eventually myoxodema coma
What is Plummer’s disease?
Where an adenoma (benign thyroid tumour) secretes thyroxine. It is also called a toxic nodule
What is Graves disease?
An autoimmune disease where anti -TSH receptor antibodies cause:
1) Hyperthyroidism
2) Visible goitre
3) Pretibial myoxoedema
4) Exophthalmos
What is a thyroid storm?
A medical emergency as is defined as anyone who is thyrotoxic who also has two key features that increase mortality. These are:
1) Pyrexia over 41 degrees celcius
2) A tachycardia over 140 or any arrhythmia
3) Cardiac failure
4) Derilium or psychosis or confusion
5) Jaundice or liver failure
What are the treatment options for Graves disease or hyperthyroidism?
1) Surgery
2) Radioiodine
3) Drugs
In hyperthyroid disorders, what activates the sympathetic nervous system?
Activated by the fact that thyroxine sensitises the beta adrenoreceptor to adrenaline and noradrenaline, so that minimal activity causes a profound effect
Thyroxine also increases basal metabolic rate
What is tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine T4)?
A prohormone which is converted by deiodinase enzyme activity into the more active metabolite tri-iodothyronine (T3)
Where does circulating T3 come from?
80%= deiodination of T4
20%= from direct thyroidal secretion
T3 provides almost all the thyroid hormone activity in target cells
What are the clinical uses of levothyroxine sodium (synthetic thyroxine)?
1) Autoimmune primary hypothyroidism
2) Iatrogenic primary hypothyroidism- e.g. post-thyroidectomy, post-radioactive iodine
Oral administration
TSH used as a guidance for thyroxine dose- aim to suppress TSH into the reference range
3) Secondary hypothyroidism e.g. pituitary tumour, post-pituitary surgery or radiotherapy
Oral administration
TSH low due to pituitary failure so can’t use TSH as a guide to dose
What is the clinical use of liothyronine (synthetic trio-iodothyronine)
Myxoedema coma- a very rare complication of hypothyroidism
IV initially- as onset of action faster than T4 then oral when possible
What are complications of combined thyroid hormone replacement (T3/T4)?
Symptoms of toxicity
- Palpitations
- Tremor
- Anxiety
What are the adverse effects of thyroid over-replacement?
- Usually associated with low/suppressed TSH
- Skeletal: increased bone turnover, reduction in bone mineral density, risk of osteoporosis
- Cardiac: tachycardia, risk of dysrhythmia, particular atrial fibrillation
- Metabolism: increased energy expenditure, weight loss
- Increased β-adrenergic sensitivity: tremor, nervousness
What are the pharmacokinetics of T4 and T3
- Active orally
T4 plasma half life: 6 days
T3 plasma half life: 2-5 days
What percentage of circulating T4 and T3 are bound to plasma proteins. What is the main plasma protein?
T4= 99.97% T3&= 99.7%
protein: thyroxine binding globuline (TBG)
In which situations will plasma proteins which bind to T3 and T4 increase in number?
In pregnancy
On prolonged treatment with oestrogens and phenothiazines
What causes thyroxine binding globulin to fall?
Malnutrition
Liver disease
Certain drug treatments
How much more T4 is in the plasma than T3?
10x more T4 than T3
How long does it take for T3 and T4 to be cleared?
The free and conjugated hormone is secreted in the bile and urine
T3: cleared in hours
T4: cleared in about 6 days
What is pretibial myxoedema?
- The swelling (non-pitting) that occurs on the shins of patients with Grave’s disease: growth of soft tissue
- Not to be confused with myoedema= hypothyrodism
What are the clinical features of hyperthyroidism?
- Weight loss despite increased appetite
- Breathlessness
- Palpitations, tachycardia
- Sweating
- Heart intolerance
- Diarrhoea
- Lid lag and other sympathetic features
What are the features of Viral (de Quervain’s) thyroiditis?
- Painful dysphagia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pyrexia
- Raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate
What is the natural history of viral thyroiditis?
- Virus attacks thyroid gland which causes pain and tenderness
- Thyroid stops making thyroxine and makes viruses instead
- Therefore there is no iodine uptake
- Radioiodine uptake is zero
- Stores thyroxine is released
- This is toxic with zero uptake
- Four weeks later, stored thyroxine is exhausted, so hypothyroid
- After a further month, resolution occurs
- Patient then becomes euthyroid again
What are the classes of drugs used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism?
1) Thionamides (thiourylenes; anti-thyroid drugs)
- propylthiouracil (PTU)
- carbimazole (CBZ)
2) Potassium iodide
3) Radioiodine
4. β-blockers
The first three drugs are aimed at blocking thyroxine synthesis whereas beta blockers help the symptoms
What are the clinical uses of thionamides?
1) Daily treatment of hyperthyroid conditions (Graves)
2) Treatment prior to surgery
3) Reduction of symptoms while waiting for radioactive iodine to act
How do thionamides result in the reduction in synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones?
The mechanism is based on inhibiting thyroid peroxidase. This leads to the inhibition of iodination of thyroglobulin. This inhibits the coupling of iodotyrosines which decreases the synthesis and secretion of T3 and T4
What are the effects of thionamides?
1) Effects on synthesis and secretion of T3 and T4
2) Possible immunosuppressive effects which might suppress antibody production in Graves disease
3) Reduces the conversion of T4 and T3 in peripheral tissues
What are the unwanted actions of thionamides?
1) Agranulocytosis/granulocytopenia (reduction or absence of granular leukocytes - rare and reversible on withdrawal of the drug
2) Rashes (relatively common)
3) Headaches
4) Nausea
5) Jaundice
6) Joint pain
What are the pharmacokinetics of thionamides?
1) Orally active
2) Carbimazole is a pro-drug which first has to be converted into methimazole
3) Plasma half life = 6-15 hours
4) Crosses placenta and is secreted in milk
5) Metabolised in the liver and is secreted in the urine
How are patients on thionamides followed up?
- Usually the aim is to stop anti-thyroid drug treatment after 18 months
- Review the patient periodically including thyroid function tests for remission/relapse
What is the role of beta blockers in thyrotoxicosis?
- It takes several weeks for anti-thryoid drugs to have clinical effects such as reduced tumour, slower heart rate and less anxiety.
- A non selective beta blocker (propanolol) achieves these effects in the interim
What are the uses of iodide (usually KI) in hyperthyroidism?
Used in combination with other drugs.
- Preparation of hyperthyroid patients for surgery
- Severe thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm)
What is the Wolff-Chaikoff effect?
The temporary reduction in thyroid hormones following ingestion of large amounts of iodine.
Inhibition of organification (thyroglobulin iodination)
Auto-regulatory phenomenon; thyroid rejects ingested iodide and hence prevents synthesis of large quantities of thyroid hormone..
How does iodine act in hyperthyroidism?
1) Inhibiting secretion of thyroid hormones, particularly in thyrotoxic patients
2) Reducing hyperthyroid symptoms
3) Reducing vascularity and size of the thyroid gland
What are the unwanted actions of iodine?
Allergic reaction e.g. rashes, fever, angio-oedema
What are the pharmacokinetics of iodine?
Given orally (Lugol's solution, aqueous iodine) Maximum effects after 10 days continuous administration
What is radioiodine used to treat?
Hyperthyroidism (usually Graves disease) and thyroid cancer
What is the mode of action of radioiodine?
The isotope becomes incorporated into thyroglobulin and therefore concentrates in the thyroid gland, emitting beta particles which have a very short range.
Thyroid function is ablated as local tissue damage occurs
What are the pharmacokinetics of radioiodine?
1) Discontinue anti-thyroid drugs 7-10 days prior to radioiodine treatment
2) Administer as a single oral dose
3) Radioactive half life = 8 days
4) Radioactivity negligible after 2 months. Maximum effect 2- 3 months
What cautions are in place when using radioiodine?
- Avoid close contact with small children for several week after receiving radioiodine
- Contra-indicated in pregnancy and breast feeding
What are the four common histologies of thyroid cancers?
1) Papillary thyroid cancer- takes up radioiodine. Good prognosis.
2) Follicular thyroid cancer- takes up radioiodine. Good prognosis
3) Anaplastic- poor prognosis
4) Medullary thyroid cancer- from C cells of the thyroid and secretes calcitonin
What are the clinical features of Cushing’s?
- Too much cortisol
- Centripetal obesity
- Moon face and buffalo lump
- Proximal myopathy
- Hypertension and hypokalaemia
- Red striae, thin skin and bruising
- Osteoporosis, diabetes
What are the causes of Cushing’s?
- Taking too many steroids
- Pituitary dependent Cushing’s disease
- Ectopic ACTH from lung cancer
- Adrenal adenoma secreting cortisol
What investigations are used to determine the cause of Cushing’s syndrome?
- 24 hour urine collection for urinary free cortisol
- Blood diurinal cortisol levels
- Low dose dexamethasone suppression test
When is cortisol usually highest and lowest
Cortisol is usually highest at 9am and lowest at midnight if asleep
What is the low dose dexamethasone suppression test?
Used to determine the cause of Cushing’s syndrome
- 0.5 mg 6 hourly for 48 hours
- Dexamethasone is an artificial steroid
- Normals will suppress cortisol to zero
- Any cause of Cushing’s will fail to suppress
How is Cushing’s treated?
- Dependant on the cause
- Pituitary surgery (transsphenoidal hypophysectomy)
- Bilateral adrenalectomy
- Unilateral adrenalectomy for adrenal mass
What is Conn’s syndrome?
- A benign adrenal cortical tumour
- Aldosterone in excess
- Results in hypertension and hypokalaemia
How is Conn’s syndrome diagnosed?
- Primary hyperaldosteronism
- Renin-angiotensin system should be suppressed
How is Conn’s syndrome treated?
- Aldosterone receptor antagonist: spironolactone
- Surgery: image and remove the adenoma
- If bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, can stay on spironolactone
What are phaeochromocytomas?
- Tumours of the adrenal medulla which secrete catecholamines
(adrenaline and nor-adrenaline)
What are the clinical features of a patient with a phaeochromocytoma?
- Hypertension in young people
- Episodic severe hypertension (after abdominal palpation)
- More common in certain inherited conditions
- Severe hypertension can cause myocardial infarction or a stroke
- High adrenaline can cause ventricular fibrillation and death
How is phaeochromocytoma managed?
- Eventually will need surgery. The patient needs careful preparation as anaesthetic can precipitate a hypertensive crisis
- Alpha blockade is first therapeutic step
- Patients may need IV fluid as alpha blockade commences
- To prevent tachycardia, a beta blockade is added
Which drugs are inhibitors of steroid biosynthesis?
Metraprone
Ketaconazole
(used for treatment of Cushing’s Syndrome)
What is the mechanism of action of metyrapone
Inhibits the enzyme 11β-hydroxylase which causes the inhibition of the production of corticosterone and cortisol.
Steroid synthesis in the zona fasciculata (and reticularis) is arrested at the 11-deoxycortisol stage
11-deoxycortisol has no negative feedback effect on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland which results in ACTH secretion increasing and plasma deoxycortisol levels increasing.
What are the uses of metyrpone?
1) Control of Cushing’s syndrome prior to surgery
- Adjust dose (oral) according to cortisol production (aim for mean serum cortisol 150-300 nmol/L)
2) Control of Cushing’s symptoms after radiotherapy (which is usually slow to take effect)
What are the unwanted action of metyrapone?
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness
- Sedation, hypoadrenalism
- Hypertension on long term administration
- Hirsutism
What is the mechanism of action of ketoconazole?
Mainly used as an anti-fungal agent
At higher concentrations, it inhibits steroidogenesis due to non-specific inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes. It blocks the production of glucocorticoids, mineralcorticoids and sex steroids
What are the uses of ketoconazole?
Similar to metryapone
Cushing’s syndrome: treatment and control of symptoms prior to surgery
- Orally active
What are the unwanted action of ketoconazole?
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
- Alopecia
- Gynaecomastia, oligospermia, impotence, decreased libido
- Ventricular tachycardias
- Liver damage, possibly fatal therefore need to monitor liver function weekly, clinically and biochemically
What is spironolactone used for?
Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome)
What is the mechanism of action for spironolactone?
- It is a prodrug which is rapidly converted into canrenone: a competitive antagonist of the mineraolcorticoid receptor.
- It blocks Na+ reabsorption and K+ excretion in the kidney tubules (potassium sparing diuretic)
What are the pharmacokinetics of spironolactone?
- Orally active
- Given daily in single or divided doses
- Highly protein bound and metabolised in the liver
What are the unwanted action of spironolactone?
- Menstrual irregularities (+ progesterone receptor)
- Gynaecomastia (androgen receptor binding)
- Gi tract irritation
Caution- renal and hepatic disease
What is epleronone?
- A mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist
- Similar affinity to the mineralocorticoid receptor compared to spironolactone
- Less binding to androgen and progesterone receptors compared to spironolactone, so better tolerated
What are the causes of adrenocorticol failure?
- Adrenal glands destroyed
- Enzymes in the steroid synthetic pathway not working
- Tuberculous Addison’s disease (commonest worldwide)
- Autoimmune Addison’s disease (commonest in UK)
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What are the consequences of adrenocortical failure?
- Fall in blood pressure
- Loss of salt in the urine
- Increased plasma potassium
- Fall in glucose due to glucocorticoid deficiency
- High ACTH resulting in increased pigmentation
- Eventual death due to severe hypotension
Where is POMC (pro-opio melanocortin) synthesised and what is it broken down into?
Synthesised: Pituitary
Broken down to ACTH and MSH and endorphins and enkephalins and other peptides
What are the tests for Addison’s?
Can be tested for if 9am cortisol is low and ACTH is high.
synACTH test test- 250 ug synacthen intramuscularly
Measure cortisol response
What is the comment cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia
21- hydroxylase deficiency
In complete 21-hydroxylase deficiency, which hormones are totally absent, which are in excess and how long can one survive?
Absent: Aldosterone and cortisol
Excess: Sex steroids and testosterone
Survival: Less than 24 hours
What is the name given when congenital adrenal hyperplasia presents as a neonate?
Addisonian crisis
- Girls might have ambiguous genitalia
Which hormones are deficient and in excess in partial 21-hydroxylase deficiency?
Deficient: cortisol and aldosterone
Excess: sex steroids and testosterone
What problems are associated with partial 21 hydroxylase deficiency?
In later life, hirsutism and virilisation in girls.
Precocious puberty in boys due to adrenal tesosterone
What can 11 deoxycorticosterone cause in excess?
Hypertension and hypokalaemia
Virilisation
11 deoxycorticosterone behaves like aldosterone
In 11-hydroxylase deficiency, which hormones are deficient and which are in excess?
Deficient: cortisol and aldosterone
Excess: sex steroids, testosterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone
What hormones are deficient and which are in excess in 17-hydroxylase deficiency?
Deficient: Cortisol and sex steroids
Excess: 11-deoxycorticosterone and aldosterone (mineralocorticoids)
What are the problems associated with 17-hyroxylase deficiency?
- Hypertension
- Low K+
- Sex steroid deficiency
- Glucocorticoid deficiency (low glucose)
What are the main differences between glucocorticoid receptors and mineralocorticoid receptors?
Glucocorticoid receptors:
- Wide distribution
- Selective for glucocorticoids
- Low affinity for cortisol
Mineralocorticoid receptors:
- Discrete distribution
- Do NOT distinguish between aldosterone and cortisol
- High affinity for cortisol
What is cortisol (hydrocortisone)?
Glucocorticoid with mineralocorticoid activity at high doses
What is prednisolone?
Glucocorticoid with weak mineralocorticoid activity
What is dexamethasone?
Synthetic glucocorticoid with no mineralocorticoid activity
What is fludrocortisone?
- Aldosterone analogue
- Used as an aldosterone substitute
Which corticosteroids are administered orally?
Hydrocortisone
Prednisolone
Dexamethasone
Fludrocortisone
Which corticosteroids are administered parenterally (IV or IM)?
Hydrocortisone
Prednisolone
Dexamethasone
How are corticosteroids distributed?
- Binding to plasma proteins (CBG and albumin) Hydrocortisone (90-95% bound) > Prednisolone >Dexamethasone > Fludrocortisone (only albumin)
How are corticosteroids metabolised and excreted?
Hepatic
- Reduction of A ring and other modifications
- Conjugation
- Excretion via bile and urine
What is the duration of corticosteroids?
Hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone: Half life= 1 hour Duration= 8 hours Prednisolone: Duration= 12 hours Dexamethasone: Duration= 40 hours
What is primary adrenocortical failure?
Cortical adrenal insufficiency/ Addison’s disease
- Patients lack cortisol and aldosterone
How is primary adrenocortical failure treated?
Treat with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone by mouth
What is secondary adrenocortical failure?
ACTH deficiency
Patients lack cortisol bu aldosterone is normal
How is secondary adrenocortical failure treated?
Treat with hydrocortisone
- Titrate dose
What is acute adrenocortical failure?
Addisonian crisis
How is acute adrenocortical failure treated?
- Saline to rehydrate the patient
- High dose hydrocortisone (IV infusion or IM ever 6 hours, mineralocorticoid effect at high dose)
- 5% dextrose if hypoglycaemic
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)?
Congenital lack of steroid synthetic enzymes
What are the objectives of corticosteroid replacement therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
- Replace cortisol
- Suppress ACTH and thus adrenal androgen production
- Replace aldosterone in salt wasting forms
What is normal cortisol production?
20mg/day
What is cortisol production in stress?
200-300 mg/day
In patients with adrenocorticol failure, what should be done if patients are vulnerable to stress?
Increase dosage of corticosteroid replacement therapy
What is iatrogenic adrenocorticol failure?
- Patients are on long-term, high dose corticosteriod treatment
- They have a suppressed HPA axis
- Require protection with additional steroids e.g. surgery, acute illness
- Should carry a steroid alert card
What are the clinical uses of glucocorticoids?
- Replacement in adrenocortical insufficiency
- Replacement and suppression of ACTH in congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Differential diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome
- Inflammatory disease
- Hypersensitivity
- Autoimmune disorders
- Prevention of tissue rejection
- Neoplastic disease
- Preterm birth
How can inflammation be both helpful and harmful?
Helpful: powerful defence against pathogens
Harmful: When the response is inappropriate
- Hypersensitivity reactions e.g. anaphylaxis
- Chronic disease e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
What are the characteristics of inflamed tissue?
Red- vasodilation
Hot- increased blood flow
Swollen- local oedema
Painful- activation of sensory afferents
What are the characteristics of chronic inflammatory responses?
- Tissue damage e.g. cell death, ulceration
- Local repaire: proliferation of local cells, fibrous connective tissue and blood vessels
- Scarring
- Impaired tissue function:
e.g. restricted joint movement in RA
bronchospasm in asthma
What is the innate (non-immunological) mechanism of inflammation?
- Comprises of vascular and cellular events
- Triggered by pro-inflammatory mediators which are derived from plasma (e.g. complement factors) and local and invading cells (e.g. histamine, eicosanoids, nitric oxide and cytokines)
- Modulated by anti-inflammatory substances
What is the acquired (specific) mechanism of inflammation?
Acquired immunological responses are initiated by
- Antigenic products of invading micro-organisms
- Hypersensitivity reactions to exogenous substances
- Hypersensitivity reactions to endogenous proteins that are normally innocuous i.e. autoimmunity
Describe the induction and effector phases of lymphocyte activation
1) The antigen is present by APC to naive CD4+ T-helper cells
2) CD4+-T helper cells recognise the antigen and binds which activates the CD4+ T-helper cell
3) Activation leads to the release of IL-2 and expression of IL-2 receptors
4) IL-2 causes proliferation of the CD4+ T helper cell into a clone of activated T cells
5) Activated T cells differentiate into Th1 or Th2 cells
6) CD8+ T-cells effect cell mediated reactions whereas B cells are involved in antibody-mediated reactions