Endocrinology Flashcards
Define acromegaly.
Constellation of signs and symptoms caused by hypersecretion of GH in adults.
What does excess GH causes in children pre-puberty?
o Gigantism
What are the presenting symptoms of acromegaly?
o Very gradual progression of symptoms over many years
o Rings and shoes becoming tight
o Increased sweating
o Headaches
o Carpal tunnel syndrome
o Hypopituitary symptoms = Hypogonadism, Hypothyroidism, Hypoadrenalism
o Visual disturbances (due to compression of optic chiasm by tumour)
o Hyperprolactinaemia = Irregular periods, Decreased libido, Impotence
What are the signs of acromegaly on examination?
o Hands - large spade-like hands with thick greasy skin, carpel tunnel syndrome signs and premature osteoarthritis
o Face - prominent eyebrow ridge, prominent cheeks, broad nose bridge, prominent nasolabial folds, thick lips, increased gap between teeth, large tongue, prognathism, husky resonant voice (due to thickening of vocal cords)
o Visual Field Loss - bitemporal superior quadrantopia progressing to bitemporal hemianopia
o Neck - multinodular goitre
o Feet - enlarged
What are the appropriate investigations for acromegaly?
o Serum IGF-1 - useful screening test (GH stimulates IGF-1 secretion)
o Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) - positive result = failure of suppression of GH after 75 g oral glucose load
o Pituitary Function Tests - 9am cortisol, free T4 and TSH, LH and FSH, testosterone, prolactin
o MRI of Brain - visualise the pituitary adenoma
What is the treatment of acromegaly?
o Surgical = trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy
o Radiotherapy = adjunctive to surgery
o Medical = if surgery is contraindicated or refused
- Subcutaneous Somatostatin Analogues - octreotide, lanreotide -> side-effects = abdominal pain, steatorrhoea, glucose intolerance, gallstones
- Oral Dopamine Agonists - bromocriptine, cabergoline -> side-effects = nausea, vomiting, constipation, postural hypotension, psychosis (RARE)
- GH Antagonist (pegvisomant)
- Monitoring GH and IGF1 levels
What are the possible complications of acromegaly?
o CVS = cardiomegaly, hypertension
o Respiratory = obstructive sleep apnoea
o GI = colonic polyps
o Reproductive = hyperprolactinaemia (in 30% of cases)
o Metabolic = hypercalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia, renal stones, DM, hypertriglyceridaemia
o Psychological = depression, psychosis (from dopamine agonists)
What are the possible complications of acromegaly surgery treatment?
Nasoseptal perforation
Hypopituitarism
Adenoma recurrence
CSF leak
Infection
Define carcinoid syndrome.
Constellation of symptoms caused by systemic release of humoral factors from carcinoid tumours.
What are the presenting symptoms of carcinoid syndrome?
o Main symptom = Paroxysmal Flushing
o Diarrhoea
o Crampy abdominal pain
o Wheeze
o Sweating
o Palpitations
What are the signs of carcinoid syndrome on examination?
Facial flushing
Telangiectasia
Wheeze
Right-sided murmurs (tricuspid stenosis/regurgitation or pulmonary stenosis)
Nodular hepatomegaly in cases of metastatic disease
What are the signs of carcinoid crisis on examination?
Profound flushing
Bronchospasm
Tachycardia
Fluctuating blood pressure
What are the appropriate investigations for carcinoid syndrome?
o 24 hours urine collection - check 5-HIAA levels (metabolite of serotonin)
o Blood - plasma chromogranin A and B, fasting gut hormones
o CT or MRI Scan - localise the tumour
o Radioisotope Scan - radiolabelled somatostatin analogue helps localise the tumour
o Investigations for MEN-1
What is MEN-1?
o Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1)
- a hereditary condition associated with tumors of the endocrine (hormone producing) glands
Define Cushing’s syndrome.
Syndrome associated with chronic inappropriate elevation of free circulating cortisol.
What are the types of Cushing’s syndrome?
o ACTH Dependent (80%)
- excess ACTH from a pituitary adenoma (Cushing’s disease)
- ectopic ACTH (e.g. lung cancer, pulmonary carcinoid tumours)
o ACTH Independent (20%)
- benign adrenal adenoma
- adrenal carcinoma
What are the presenting symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome?
Increasing weight
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Myalgia
Thin skin
Easy bruising
Poor wound healing
Fractures
Hirsuitism
Acne
Frontal balding
Oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea
Depression or psychosis
What are the signs of Cushing’s syndrome on examination?
Moon face
Facial plethora
Interscapular fat pad
Proximal muscle weakness
Thin skin
Bruises
Central obesity
Pink/purple striae on abdomen/breast/thighs
Kyphosis (due to vertebral fracture)
Poorly healing wounds
Hirsuitism, acne, frontal balding
Hypertension
Ankle oedema (due to salt and water retention from the mineralocorticoid effect of cortisol)
Pigmentation in ACTH dependent cases
What are the appropriate investigations for diagnosing Cushing’s disease?
o Must be performed on patients with a high pre-test probability
o Bloods - U&Es (hypokalaemia due to mineralocorticoid effect), glucose
o Initial High-Sensitivity Tests - urinary free cortisol, late-night salivary cortisol, overnight dexamethasone suppression test, low dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) = Give 0.5 mg dexamethasone orally ever 6 hrs for 48 hrs
What are the appropriate investigations for identifying underlying causes of Cushing’s disease?
o ACTH-independent (adrenal adenoma/carcinoma) = low plasma ACTH, CT or MRI of adrenals
o ACTH-dependent (pituitary adenoma) = high plasma ACTH, pituitary MRI, high-dose dexamethasone suppression test, inferior petrosal sinus sampling (SUPERIOR to high-dose dexamethasone suppression test)
o ACTH-dependent (ectopic) = if lung cancer suspected: CXR, sputum cytology, bronchoscopy, CT san
What is the treatment for Cushing’s syndrome?
o If iatrogenic = discontinue steroids, use lower dose or use a steroid-sparing agent
o Medical = inhibit cortisol synthesis with metyrapone or ketoconazole, treat osteoporosis, physiotherapy for muscle weakness
o Surgical = pituitary adenomas - trans-sphenoidal adenoma resection or for adrenal adenoma/carcinoma - surgical removal of tumour
o Radiotherapy = performed in those who are not cured and have persistent high cortisol after trans-sphenoidal resection of the tumour
What are the possible complications of Cushing’s syndrome?
o Of the disease = Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Hypertension, Pre-disposition to infections, Long-term depression even years following treatment starting
o Surgery treatment = CSF leakage, Meningitis, Sphenoid sinusitis, Hypopituitarism
Medicinal treatment = Hypopituitarism, Radionecrosis, Increased risk of second intracranial tumours and stroke
Define diabetes insipidus.
A disorder of inadequate secretion or of insensitivity to vasopressin (ADH) leading to hypotonic polyuria.
o Central DI = failure of ADH secretion by the posterior pituitary
o Nephrogenic DI = insensitivity of the collecting duct to ADH
What are the causes of central diabetes insipidus?
Idiopathic
Tumours (e.g. pituitary tumour)
Infiltrative (e.g. sarcoidosis)
Infection (e.g. meningitis)
Vascular (e.g. aneurysms, Sheehan syndrome)
Trauma (e.g. head injury, neurosurgery)
What are the causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
Idiopathic
Drugs (e.g. lithium)
Post-obstructive uropathy
Pyelonephritis
Pregnancy
Osmotic diuresis (e.g. diabetes mellitus)
What are the presenting symptoms of diabetes insipidus?
o Polyuria
o Nocturia
o Polydipsia
o In children =enuresis (bed-wetting), sleep disturbance
o Other symptoms depend on aetiology
What are the signs of diabetes insipidus on examination?
o Central DI has few signs if the patient drinks sufficiently to maintain adequate fluid levels
o Urine output > 3 L/day
o If fluid intake < fluid output, signs of dehydration will be present (e.g. tachycardia, reduced tissue turgor, postural hypotension, dry mucous membranes)
o Signs related to the cause (e.g. visual defect due to pituitary tumour)
What are the appropriate investigations for diabetes insipidus?
o Water Deprivation Test - water is restricted for 8 hrs and plasma and urine osmolality are measured every hour for 8 hrs, desmopressin is given after 8 hrs and urine osmolality is measured (stop the test if the fall in body weight is > 3%)
o Bloods - U&Es and Ca2+
What is the treatment of diabetes insipidus?
o Treat the cause
o Cranial DI - give Desmopressin (vasopressin analogue) or if mild chlorpropamide or carbamazepine can be used to potentiate the residual effects of any residual vasopressin
o Nephrogenic DI - Sodium and/or protein restriction helps with polyuria and thiazide diuretics
What are the possible complicatios of diabetes insipidus?
Hypernatraemic dehydration
Excess desmopressin –> hyponatraemia
Define diabetes mellitus type 1.
Metabolic hyperglycaemic condition caused by absolute insufficiency of pancreatic insulin production.
What auto-antigens are associated with T1DM?
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)
Insulin
Insulinoma-associated protein 2
Cation efflux zinc transporter
What are the presenting sign and symptoms of T1DM?
Juvenile onset (< 30 yrs)
Polyuria/nocturia
Polydipsia
Tiredness
Weight loss
What are the appropriate investigations for T1DM?
o Blood Glucose - fasting blood glucose > 7 mmol/L or random blood glucose > 11.1 mmol/L, FBC (MCV, reticulocytes), U&Es, lipid profile
o HbA1c
o Urine albumin creatinine ratio - used to detect microalbuminuria
o Urine - glycosuria, ketonuria, MSU
What is management for T1DM?
o Advice and patient education
o Short-acting insulin (three times daily before meals) - lispro, aspart, glulisine
o Long-acting insulin (once daily) - isophane, glargine, detemir
o DAFNE courses (dose adjustment for normal eating)
o Monitoring - regular capillary blood glucose tests, HbA1c every 3-6 months
o Screening and management of complications
What is the treatment of hypoglycaemia?
If reduced consciousness: 50 ml of 50% glucose IV OR 1 mg glucagon IM
If consciousness and cooperative: 50 g oral glucose + starchy snack
What are the possible complications of T1DM?
o DKA - can be precipitated by infection, errors in management of diabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes, idiopathic
o Microvascular complications - retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy
o Macrovascular complications - peripheral vascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, stroke/TIA
o Increased risk of infection
o Treatment Complications = Weight gain, Fat hypertrophy at insulin injection sites, Hypoglycaemia
What are the possible complications of T1DM treatment?
Weight gain
Fat hypertrophy at insulin injection sites
Hypoglycaemia
What are the symptoms of hypoglycaemic attacks?
Personality changes
Fits
Confusion
Coma
Pallor
Sweating
Tremor
Tachycardia
Palpitations
Dizziness
Hunger
Focal neurological symptoms
Define diabetes mellitus type 2.
Characterised by increased peripheral resistance to insulin action, impaired insulin secretion and increased hepatic glucose output.
What are the presenting symptoms of T2DM?
May be an incidental finding
Polyuria
Polydipsia
Tiredness
Patients may present with hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS)
Infections (e.g. infected foot ulcers, candidiasis, balanitis)
Assess cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and smoking
What are the signs of T2DM on examination?
o High BMI
o Waist circumference
o Blood pressure
o Diabetic foot (ischaemic and neuropathic signs)
o Reduced subcutaneous tissue
o Gangrene
o Charcot’s arthropathy
o Weak foot pulses
o Skin changes = dry skin, ulceration, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, granuloma annulare, diabetic dermopathy
What are the appropriate investigations for T2DM?
o T2DM is diagnosed if one or more of the following are present = symptoms of diabetes and a random plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/L, fasting plasma glucose > 7 mmol/L, two-hour plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/L after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test
o Monitor = HbA1c, U&Es, lipid profile, eGFR
o Urine albumin = creatinine ration (look out for microalbuminuria)
What is the treatment of T2DM?
o At diagnosis: lifestyle + metformin
o If HbA1c > 7% after 3 months: lifestyle + metformin + sulphonylurea
o If HbA1c > 7% after 3 months: lifestyle + metformin + basal insulin
o If HbA1c > 7% after 3 months and fasting blood glucose > 7 mmol/L: add premeal rapid-acting insulin
o Close monitorment during pregnancy
What are the possible complications of T2DM?
o Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state = due to insulin deficiency
o Neuropathy = distal symmetrical sensory neuropathy, painful neuropathy, carpel tunnel syndrome, diabetic amyotrophy, mononeuritis, autonomic neuropathy, gastroparesis, impotence, urinary retention
o Nephropathy
o Retinopathy = background, pre-proliferative, proliferative, maculopathy, prone to glaucoma, cataracts and transient visual loss
o Macrovascular complications = IHD, stroke, peripheral vascular disease
Define Graves’ disease.
Caused by the presence of TSH-receptor stimulating antibodies that lead to hyperthyroidism due to loss of negative feedback.
- most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
What are the risk factors for hyperthyroidism?
Family history
High iodine intake
Smoking
Trauma to the thyroid gland
Toxic multinodular goitre
HAART
Childbirth
What are the presenting symptoms of Graves’ disease?
Weight loss despite increased appetite
Irritability
Weakness
Diarrhoea
Sweating
Tremor
Anxiety
Heat intolerance
Loss of libido
Oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea
What are the signs of Graves’ disease on examination?
Palmar erythema
Sweaty and warm palms
Fine tremor
Tachycardia (may be AF)
Hair thinning
Urticaria/pruritus
Brisk reflexes
Goitre
Proximal myopathy
Lid lag
Gynaecomastia
What are the appropriate investigations for Graves’ disease?
o TFTs = low TSH + high T3/T4
o Autoantibodies = anti-TPO antibodies (found in 75% of Graves), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, TSH-receptor antibodies (very sensitive and specific for Graves)
o Imaging - thyroid ultrasound, thyroid uptake scan
o Inflammatory Markers = CRP/ESR will be raised in subacute thyroiditis
Define primary hyperparathyroidism.
Increased secretion of PTH unrelated to the plasma calcium concentration.
Define secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Increased secretion of PTH secondary to hypocalcaemia.
Define tertiary hyperparathyroidism.
Autonomous PTH secretion following chronic secondary hyperparathyroidism.
What are the causes of primary hyperparathyroidism?
Parathyroid adenoma
Parathyroid hyperplasia
Parathyroid carcinoma
MEN syndrome
What are the causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism?
Chronic renal failure
Vitamin D deficiency
What are the presenting signs and symptoms of hyperparathyroidism?
o Primary - many patients have mild hypercalcaemia and may be asymptomatic
- symptoms/signs of hyperclacaemia - polyuria, polydipsia, renal calculi, bone pain, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, psychological depression, lethargy
o Secondary - may present with signs/symptoms of hypocalcaemia or of the underlying cause (e.g. renal failure, vitamin D deficiency)
What are the appropriate investigations for hyperparathyroidism?
o Bloods = U&Es, serum calcium (high in primary and tertiary, low/normal in secondary), serum phosphate (low in primary and tertiary, high in secondary), albumin, ALP, vitamin D, PTH
o Renal ultrasound - can visualise renal calculi
What is the treatment for hyperparathyroidism?
o Acute hypercalcaemia = IV fluids, avoid factors that exacerbate hypercalcaemia (e.g. thiazide diuretics), maintain adequate hydration, moderate calcium and vitamin D intake
o Surgical management = subtotal parathyroidectomy, total parathyroidectomy
o Secondary hyperparathyroidism management = treat underlying cause (e.g. renal failure), calcium and vitamin D supplements may be needed
What are the possible complications of primary hyperparathyroidism?
Increased bone resorption
Increased tubular calcium reabsorption
Increased 1a-hydroxylation of vitamin D
All of these lead to hypercalcaemia
What are the possible complications of secondary hyperparathyroidism?
Increased stimulation of osteoclasts and increased bone turnover
This leads to osteitis fibrosa cystica
What are the possible complications of hyperparathyroidism surgical treatment?
Hypocalcaemia
Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
Define female hypogonadism.
Characterised by impairment of ovarian function.
What are the types of female hypogonadism?
o Primary hypogonadism
- gonadal dysgenesis (due to chromosomal abnormalities e.g. Turner’s syndrome)
- gonadal damage (e.g. autoimmune, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
o Secondary hypogonadism
- functional (e.g. stress, weight loss, excessive exercise, eating disorders)
- pituitary/hypothalamic tumours and Infiltrative Lesions (e.g. pituitary adenomas, haemochromatosis)
- hyperprolactinaemia (e.g. due to prolactinoma)
- congenital GnRH deficiency: Kallmann’s syndrome, idiopathic
What are the presenting symptoms of female hypogonadism?
o Symptoms of oestrogen deficiency = night sweats, hot flushing, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, decreased libido, infertility
o Symptoms of the underlying cause
What are the signs of female pre-pubertal hypogonadism on examination?
o Delayed puberty = primary amenorrhoea, absent breast development, no secondary sexual characteristics
o Eunuchoid = long legs, arm span greater than height
What are the signs of female post-pubertal hypogonadism on examination?
Regression of secondary sexual characteristics (e.g. loss of secondary sexual hair, breast atrophy)
Perioral and periorbital fine facial wrinkles
Signs of underlying cause
What are the signs of female hypothalamic/pituitary hypogonadism on examination?
Visual field defects
What are the signs of female Kallmann’s syndrome hypogonadism on examination?
o Amnosia