Endocrinology Flashcards
What is the name of the dopamine agonist used in acromegaly and prolactinoma?
Cabergoline
What is the pathophysiology of acromegaly?
Increased secretions of GH from pituitary tumour or hyperplasia. GH stimulates soft tissue growth through increased secretion of insulin like growth factor 1.
What two hormones does the posterior pituitary secrete?
Vasopressin (supraoptic nucleus) and Oxytocin (paraventricular nucleus)
What is the action of oxytocin?
Smooth muscle contraction in uterus, and lactation in the breast
What is the action of vasopressin?
ADH - acting on collecting ducts - reabsorption of water so decrease urine output
Also causes arteriolar constriction which leads to peripheral vascular resistance and increase BP
Name 5 hormones secreted in hypothalamus that cause secretions in anterior pituitary?
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) Dopamine
Which 6 hormones are secreted in the anterior pituitary?
- FSH
- LH
- GH
- Prolactin
- ACTH
- TSH
What is the action of prolactin?
Stimulates lactation in the breasts
Which hormone from hypothalamus stimulates prolactin release and which hormone inhibits it?
TRH - stimulates prolactin release
Dopamine- inhibits it (overrides TRH)
What negative feedback loop is caused by increased prolactin?
Causes decreased of GnRH release from hypothalamus
Which nucleus in the hypothalamus controls the circadian rhythm?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Name the two most common causes of primary adrenal insufficiency?
Addisons disease and CAH (congenital adrenal hyperplasia)
Name 5 signs and symptoms of adrenal crisis?
Hypotension, hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia, fatigue and fever
Why do you get hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkaelamia in adrenal crisis?
Lack of production of aldosterone, causes hyponatraemia and hypoerkalemia because aldosterone is not reabsorbing Na in kidneys, hypoglycaemia because cortisol isn’t producing
What is the immediate management of adrenal crisis?
Hydrocortisone
In acromegaly why is GH plasma levels non-diagnostic?
GH is pulsatile- increases in stress, sleep, pregnancy and puberty
What are the 3 stages of diagnosis in acromegaly?
- Plasma GH levels
- Glucose tolerance test (should be no suppression of glucose)
- IGF-1 levels
Give 4 signs of acromegaly?
Acral enlargement, maxiofacial changes, scalp folds, curly hair
What are the 3 stages of treatment for acromegaly?
- Transphenoidal surgery
- Medical therapy
- Radiotherapy
Give two disadvantages to using radiotherapy in acromegaly?
Delayed response
Can cause hypogondism
Which are the 3 medications used in acromegaly treatment in order of effectiveness?
- Somatostatin analogue - eg IM octreoride
- GH receptor antagonist eg Pegvisomant
- Dopamine antagonist eg oral cabergolin
Give 4 symptoms of acromegaly?
Amenorrhoea, loss of libido, headache, sweating, snoring, skin darkening, weight gain and low voice
Give 3 causes hyperprolactinaemia?
- Prolcatinoma
- Compression of pituitary stalk –> decreased dopamine
- Drugs eg dopamine antagonists
What medication would you use to treat prolcatinoma?
Dopamine agonist eg Oral Cabergoline
Give 3 common presentations of prolactinomas?
- Amenorrhoea
- Infertility
- Decreased libido and increased weight
What 3 signs would you expect to see in Conn’s syndrome?
Hypernatraemia, hypokalaemia and hypertension
What would you see on an ECG in a patient with Conns?
Hypokalaemia = flat T waves, ST depression and long QT
What is a) initial screening and b) diagnostic investigation in Conns?
a) Plasma aldosterone: renin ratio
b) aldosterone antagonist ef oral spironalactone
Name 2 treatment methods for Conns?
- Laproscopic aldrenalectomy
2. Oral spironolactone
How do you diagnosis secondary adrenal insufficiency?
Low ACTH and normal mineralocorticoid
What is the pathophysiology behind secondary adrenal insufficiency?
Lack of ACTH due to problems with the HPA axis - most common cause is iatrogenic
What are the two causes of primary adrenal insufficiency?
- CAH - congenital adrenal hyperplasia
2. Addisons
Give 3 causes of Addisons disease?
Adrenalitis, infections eg TB, adrenal infarction, metastases from lungs and stomach
Name 3 symptoms you can get due to cortisol deficiency in addison’s?
Fatigue, muscle weakness, hyper pigmentation, abdominal pain
Name a symptom you can get due to a) aldosterone deficiency and b) androgen deficiency in addison’s?
a) Postural hypotension
b) Loss of libido and menstrual irregularities
Name 4 things you would see on a blood test for a patient with Addisons?
- Hypnatraemia, hyperkalaemia, hypoaldoesteronism, eosinophils and anaemia
Which adrenal antibody may be present in Addison’s disease?
21 hydoxylase antibody
Name 2 diagnostic tests you would perform in addison’s?
- Short ACTH stimulation test using tetracosaride
2. 9am ACTH levels
Give 2 treatment methods for addison’s disease?
- Replace cortisol with hydrocortisone
2. Replace mineralcorticoaids with fludrocortisone
What is diabetes insidipidus?
Passage of large volumes of dilute urine due to impaired water reabsorption in kidney - passage of urine >3L
Give 3 cranial causes of diabetes insipidus?
Idiopathic, congenital defect in ADH gene, tumour eg posterior pituitary and trauma
Give 3 nephrogenic (resistant to ADH) causes of diabetes insipidus?
Metabolic (hypercalacermia, hypokalaemia)
Drugs (Lithium)
Osmotic diuresis (diabetes mellitus)
Inherited
What is the clinical presentation of diabetes insipidus?
Polyuria, compensatory polydipsia, hypernatraemia (lethargy, weakness), dehydration
How do you differentiate cranial and nephrogenic causes of DI?
Water deprivation test then
Desmopressin stimulation - urine not concentrated in nephrogenic
Give a treatment method for a) nephrogenic and b) cranial causes of diabetes insidipidus?
a) Thiazide diuretics eg oral bendrofluromethiazide
b) Give oral desmopressin
What should the normal blood glucose be between?
3.5-8mmol/L
Give 4 causes of secondary Diabetes?
a) Pancreatic pathology eg Haemochromatosis
2. Endocrine disease eg acromegaly
3. Drug induced eg thiazide diuretics
4. Maturity onset diabetes of youth (MODY)
Which tissue type is type 1 diabetes associated with?
HLA DR3 and HLA DR4
Which other autoimmune diseases are associated with type 1 diabetes?
Autoimmune thyroiditis, coeliac disease, addison’s disease, perncious anaemia
Name 5 of the presenting features of type 1 diabetes?
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Muscle and weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Pruritus valence and balantis
- Hunger due to decrease useable energy source
Which 3 factors would lead to an immediate diagnosis of type 1 diabetes if 2/3 were present?
Weight loss, short history of severe symptoms and moderate/large urinary ketones