Endocrinology Flashcards
qualities of
(a) endocrine hormones
(b) paracrine hormones
(c) autocrine hormones
(a) endocrine- glands release hormone secretion into blood stream, hormones are blood-borne and act at distant sites
(b) paracrine hormones act on adacent cels
(c) autocrine hormones feedback to the same cell that secreted the hormone
water-soluble hormones;
(a) transport
(b) cell interactions
(c) half-life
(d) clearance
(e) examples
Water soluble hormones are;
(a) unbound
(b) bind to surface receptor
(c) short half-life
(d) fast clearance
(e) e.g. peptides, monoamines
fat-soluble hormones;
(a) transport
(b) cell interactions
(c) half-life
(d) clearance
(e) examples
Fat-soluble hormones are;
(a) protein-bound
(b) diffuse into cell
(c) long half-life
(d) slow clearance
(e) e.g. thyroid hormone, steroids
peptide hormones
(a) structure and 2 examples
(b) storage
(c) solubility
(d) clearance
(a) structure- made of amino acids, between 3 (TRH) and 180 (Gonadotrophins)
(b) stored in secretory granules, often released in pulses or bursts
(c) water-soluble
(d) cleared by the target tissue or by circulating enzymes in the bloodstream
Amine hormones
(a) derivatives/formatoin
(b) action
(c) solubility
(a) amine hormones are derivatives of either phenylanine (NA and adrenaline) or tryptophan (5HT and melatonin)
NA is converted to normetanephrine by COMT enzyme and adrenaline is converted to metanephrine.
(b) Noradrenaline/Adrenaline act at adrenoreceptors (cell surface receptors, binding leads to G protein activation);
- alpha adrenoreceptors –> increased phospholipid C and protein Kinase C
- beta adrenoreceptors –> increased adenyl cyclase and cAMP
(c) water-soluble hormones
Iodothyronines
(a) solubility
(b) process of formation
(c) release
(d) action on cells & functions
(a) thyroid hormones are fat soluble
(b) formation:
- secretory cells in thyroid release thyroglobulin (glycoprotein)
- tyrosine side-chain of thyroglobulin incorporates iodine to form iodothyrosines
- iodothyrosine molecules are conjugated to form T3 and T4 –> these are stored bound to thyroglobulin in colloid
(c) release;
TSH stimulates the movement of colloid into the secretory cell and T3 and T4 are cleaved from thyroglobulin and released into the bloodstream. 20% of T3 in circulation is secreted from thyroid, rest is converted from T4
(d) thyroid hormone enters the target cell and enters the nucleus to bind to their receptor
functions: acceleration of food metabolism, increase in protein synthesis, stimulation of carb metabolism, increased ventilation rate, increased heart rate and cardiac output, acceleration of growth rate
Cholesterol derivatives & steroids;
- solubility
- vit example & transport
- steroids
- inactivation
- fat soluble
- vit D, enters cells to directly stimulate a nuclear receptor to stimulate mRNA production (and thus protein synthesis). Vit D is transported in the plasma bound to vit D binding protein
- e.g. adrenocortical and gonadal steroids. Transported in the plasma mostly bound to protein. Enter the cell and bind to their receptor in the cytoplasm (except oestrogen whose receptor is in nucleus). The hormone-receptor complex then enters he nucleus to induce its response by interacting with a response element on DNA.
- Cholesterol-derived hormones are inactivated by the liver by redox reaction, or conjugation to glucuronide and sulphate groups
- circadian rhythms; how to look for deficiency and excess
- circadian rhythm of cortisol
hormones with circadian rhythms are secreted at varying levels throughout the day- e.g. cortisol.
Cortisol is secreted at its peak first thing in the morning (6.30-9am) and levels are lowest overnight. Cortisol levels reflect energy levels.
Pituitary gland- role
(a) examples of damage to nearby structures caused by pituitary damage
(b) posterior pituitary- role
- hormones associated with posterior pituitary
(c) anterior pituitary- role
- hormones associated with anterior pituitary (5)
(a) optic chiasm sits above pituitary gland- damage can result in bitemporal hemianopia; some cranial nerves pass to the side of the pituitary fossa in the cavernous sinus- sideway growth of tumour can lead to cranial nerve palsies
(b) posterior pituitary= downgrowth of hypothalamus (i.e. Oxytocin and ADH synthesised in the hypothalamus are transported along axons to the posterior pituitary where they are stored until hypothalmic stimulation leads to their release)
(c) Anterior pituitary cells secrete loads of different hormones;
- thyrotrophs secrete TSH which acts on thyroid gland
- corticotrophs secrete ACTH which acts on the adrenal cortex
- gonadotrophs secrete FSH and LH which act on ovaries and testes
- Somatotrophs secrete GH which acts on all body cells
- Lactotrophs secrete PRL which acts on mammary glands
ADH secretion
(a) ADH synthesis/storage & effects
(b) stimulants for secretion
(c) 2 inhibitors of ADH release
(a) ADH is synthesised in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary. It causes water retention at the kidney; stimulates the relocation of aquaporin V2 channels to the cell membrane in the collecting duct of the kidney & also acts on smooth muscle in blood vessels to stimulate vasoconstriction
(b) ADH release is stimulated by decreased blood volume (detected by kidney), increased osmolality due to increased sodium levels (detected by the brain), nausea, vomiting, stress and exercise.
(c) Caffience and alcohol inhibit ADH release
Stimulant for anterior pituitary hormone release
Hypothalmic neurosecretory cells secrete hormone releasing hormones (HRH) which travel to anterior pituitary via portal system to stimulate release of hormones. (exception is prolactin which is continuously released unless inhibited by dopamine- which it usually is)
direct and indirect effects of growth hormone
direct; increased fat and carbohydrate metabolism in target cells
indirect; act on liver; liver releases insulin-like growth factors which then act on different tissues (growth- skeletal and extra-skeletal)
Effects of pituitary dysfunction
first step of investigating pituitary dysfunction
Pituitary dysfunction can cause (1) tumour mass effects- e.g. compression of nerves; (2) hormone excess; (3) hormone deficiency
to investigate, perform hormonal tests; if these are abnormal then a pituitary MRI should be carried out
hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function
effects of overexpression?
HPA axis leads to release of cortisol from the zona fasciculata (middle layer) of adrenal glands. Cortisol - major metabolic (breakdown of protein and storage of visceral fat) and stress hormone.
If cortisol is overproduced it can lead to excessive breakdown of protein and increased storage of visceral fat.
adrenal cortex secretions from
(a) zona glomerulosa
(b) zona fasciculata
(c) zona reticularis
(a) glomerulosa secretes aldosterone
(b) fasciculata secretes cortisol
(c) reticularis secretes sex hormones
RAAS System
- decreased sympathetic activity or low sodium levels trigger release of renin from kidney
- Renin converts Angiotensinogen to Angiotensin I
- Angiotensin I is converted by ACE to Angiotensin II (particularly in lungs)
- Angiotensin II (a vasoconstrictor which increases BP) acts on the zona glomerulosa, causing it to release aldosterone
- Aldosterone targets the kidney tubules and leads to increased reabsorption of sodium and water and increases potassium secretion –> increases blood volume and pressure
Effect on aldosterone release of
(a) stress
(b) ANP
(a) stress -> increased ACTH release –> increased aldosterone release
(b) ANP released in the atria of heart has inhibitory effect on zona glomerulosa
Effect on aldosterone release of
(a) stress
(b) ANP
(a) stress -> increased ACTH release –> increased aldosterone release
(b) ANP released in the atria of heart has inhibitory effect on zona glomerulosa
location of pituitary gland in the skull
pituitary gland sits in the sella turcica inside the skull. The sphenoid sinus is just below where the pituitary gland is located
blood supply of anterior pituitary- any arterial supply?
no arterial blood supply. Anterior pituitary receives blood through a portal venous circulation from the hypothalamus,
hypothalalamo-pituitary thyroid axis
- hypothalamus releases TRH which acts on the pituitary gland
- pituitary fland releases TSH in response to act on the thyroid gland
- Thyroid releases T4 and T3
- T4 and T3 both provide negative feedbac to the hypothalamus and pituitary
What does it mean if someone has high TSH levels? What diagnostic steps would you take?
If TSH is high, this indicates the person most likely has hypothyroidism (with increased negative feedback). If someone’s thyroid is not producing enough TH, their pituitary detects the reduced levels of thyroid hormone and produces more TSH, which then triggers your thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. This is the pituitary’s effort to raise the levels of thyroid hormone and return the system to normal.
to make sure it is not a hypothalmic or pituitary issue, you would check T4 and T3 levels along with the TSH.
hypothalmo-pituitary gonadal axis
- hypothalamus produces GnRH which acts on the pituitary
- pituitary secretes LH and FSH
- in males, LH acs on Leydig cells in testesm resulting in production of testosterone. FSH results in sperm generation through an action on sertoli cells
- In females, LH acts on thecal cells in the ovaries, resulting in the production of oestrogen. FSH results in generation of ova
- There is a negative feedback from testosterone and oestrogen to the pituitary and hypothalamus
(a) steroid effects on LH and FSH
(b) mumps effect on LH, FSH, GnRH, testosterone
(c) menopause effects on LH, FSH, GnRH, oestrogen
(a) steroid use lowers levels of LH and FSH
(b) mumps makes someone hypogonadal, which leads to an increase in FSH, LH and GnRH and decrease in testosterone
(c) menopause is due to primary ovarian failure, so LH, FSH and GnRH will all increase and oestrogen will decrease.
how is adrenal gland secretion controlled?
Through the HPA Axis;
- hypothalamus secretes CRH
- Pituitary responds to this by secreting ACTH
- ACTH acts on the adrenal gland, which produces cortisol
- Cortisol provides negative feedback to the pituitary and hypothalamus
Control of growth hormone release
Hypothalamus secretes GHRH, and this is opposed by the secretion of somatostatn (SMS). When GHRH levels are high, SMS levels are low (and vice versa)
How do growth hormone indirect actions occur?
Through the GH-IGF1 axis;
- hypothalamus releases GHRH
- pituitary gland releases GH
- Liver releases insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)
- IGF-1 acts on a number of different tissues and provides negative feedback to the thalamus
Prolactin- significance and control of release
Prolactin is important in breastfeeding
Release is under negative control from dopamine- released by hypothalamus
When dopamine levels fall, PRL is secreted by the pituitary gland
- Prolactin levels increase if dopamine levels fall for pathological reason e.g. if patient takes a dopaminergic antagonist (e,g antipsychotic or ant-emetic drug)
Pituitary tumours can increase secretion of PRL also.
5 examples of pituitary gland disease
(1) Benign pituitary adenoma
(2) Craniopharyngioma (cystic tumours)
(3) Trauma
(4) Apoplexy/Sheehans syndrome- during pregnancy, pituitary becomes vascular and can be at risk of bleeding during delivery
(5) Sarcoid/TB
BMI classes
<18.5= underweight 18.5-24.9= normal 25-29.9= overweight 30-39.9= obese >40= morbidly obese
7 risks of obesity
- type II diabetes
- Hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Osteoarthritis
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Carcinoma
hypothalamus- connection to appetite
- Lateral hypothalamus= hunger center
- venteromedial hypothalmic nucleus= satiety center
leptin
(i) origin
(ii) action
(iii) effect
(i) expressed in white fat
(ii) binds to leptin receptor (cytokine receptor in hypothalamus)
(iii) switches off appetite and is immunostimulatory.
Peptide YY
- 36 amino acid peptide released from cells in the ileum and colon in response to feeding
- Binds NPY receptors
- inhibits gastric motility and reduces appetite
CCK
(i) production
(ii) action
(iii) effect
(i) CCK= peptide hormone synthesised and secreted by enteroendocrine cells in the duodenum
(ii) binds to receptors in the pyloric sphincter
(iii) delays gastric emptying, leads to gall bladder contraction and insulin release
Ghrelin
(i) origin/production
(ii) effect
(i) circulating hormone produced by enteroendocrine cells in the stomach
(ii) stimulates growth hormone release and increases appetite
POMC
(i) what is it?
(ii) clinical phenotype of POMC deficiency?
(i) precursor polypeptide produced in anterior pituitary, gives rise to hormones such as MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) which is important for appetite regulation and ACTH
(ii) POMC deficiency –> severe obesity at early age, and resultant lack of ACTH means they usually have red hair and pale skin
5 cell types in the anterior pituitary & hormone produced?
- Thyrotrophs secrete TSH which acts on the Thyroid Gland
- Corticotrophs secrete ACTH which acts on the adrenal cortex
- Gonadotrophs secrete FSH and LH which act on the ovaries and testes
- Somatrophs secrete GH which acts on all body cells
- Lactotrophs secrete PRL which acts on mammary glands
Thyroid hormone effects;
- acceleration of food metabolism
- increased protein synthesis
- stimulation of carbohydrate metabolism
- enhanced fat metabolism
- increased ventilation rate
- increased heart rate and cardiac output
- acceleration of growth rate
- brain development during foetal life and postnatal development
Thyroid hormone release- how much is T3 and how much is T4?
Only 20% is released in active form T3, 80% released as T4 which is a peripheral storage form of thyroid hormone, which is then converted to T3.
3 potential effects of pituitary tumours
(1) pressure on local structures
(2) hypopituitarism
(3) Functioning tumours
Presentations of pituitary tumours depend on
which way the tumour expands;
- upward growth tends to lead to headaches, visual field defects and occasionally hydrocephalus
- downward growth can result in CSF rhinorrhea (CSF from nose) due to tumour perforating the bone, but this is more common after pituitary surgery than as a presenting sign
first vision affected in bitemporal hemianopia
loss of colour vision
most common functioning pituitary tumour
- most common in
- effects
- treatment & possible side effect
prolactin microadenoma
- most common in females
- symptoms include loss of periods (due to PRL switching off production of gonadotriopin –> possible infertility and loss of libido), production of milk, visual field defect
- treat with a dopamine agonist e.g. cabergoline or bromocriptine. Increases fertility- patient may get pregnant
Gigantism
-cause
Gigantism is caused by pituitary tumour producing GH in childhood & tumour compressing on normal pituitary, preventing person from completing puberty. Gigantism occurs due to excess GH and failure of growth plates fusing
Acromegaly
- cause
- clinical presentation
- GH-producing tumour causes acromegaly
- Presentations include thickened skin (esp back of neck), greasy skin and hair, increased sweating, prognathism (protrustion of mandible), frontal bossing (prominent forehead and heavy brow ridge) and large tongue and hands.
Cushing’s disease
- Cause- most common cause
- clinical presentation
- Cushing’s caused by excess steroid hormones, main one being cortisol. Most commonly iatrogenic- due to use of steroids for another condition (can also be due to pituitary tumour)
- Presentations include moon face, hump back, central obesity, proximal myopathy, thin skin which bruises easily, poor healking and abdominal striae. Children can present with short stature.
Why is a lack of cortisol very dangerous?
Without cortisol, you could die of adrenal crisis
what exactly is the body clock? what is the primary zeitgeber?
The body clock is the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus- light is the primary zeitgeber.
damage to the hypothalamus can result in a loss of temperature control and loss of control of the sleep/wake cycle
Why can Addison’s disease cause vitiligo as well as adrenal insufficiency?
ACTH acts on a melanocortin receptor, which is found in the adrenal gland and also in the skin.
What causes primary Addison’s disease?
Primary addisons is due to an issue with the adrenal gland itself, most commonly autoimmune adrenalitis but could also be other things e.g. congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)- other causes involve metastatc cancer, haemorrhage and infection e.g. TB
What causes secondary Addison’s disease?
Secondary Addison’s is caused by a problem with the pituitary gland. Causes include pituitary macroadenoma, stroke, infection, metastatic infiltration, radiotherapy and congenital hypopituitarism
what causes tertiary Addison’s disease?
Tertiary Addison’s disease affects the hypothalamus and suppresses the HPA axis, The main cause of this is use of steroids.
Signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease?
Fatigue, weight loss, poor recovery from illness, adrenal crisis, headache, pigmentation, pallor, hypotension
Other features which might indicate adrenal insufficiency?
past medical history (TB, post-partum bleed, cancer) & family history (autoimmunity, congenital disease)
Biochemical signs of someone who has adrenal insufficiency?
- Low sodium and high potassium (the HPA axis influences Na/K exchange in the kidney)
- Eosinophilia
- Borderline elevated TSH
Investigation for Adrenal insufficiency
- Main investigation is a hormone test to measure levels of cortisol- look when cortisol levels are expected to be at the highest levels- at 9am. (this is similar for ACTH levels).
- elevated renin can also be seen in primary adrenal insuficiency because renin attempts to compensate for the lack of HPA axons input into aldosterone secretion
- If suspecting hormone deficiency, carry out stimulation test; give patient 250mg ACTH and see if adrenal gland response increases levels of cortisol 30 mins post injection. If looking for hormone excess, carry out a suppression test.
Treatment for adrenal insufficiency
Hydrocortisone is taken two or three times daily, at a dose to replace natural cortisol levels in the day, normally 15-25 mg.
If cause is primary adrenal insufficiency, you would also need to replace aldosterone with fludrocortisone.
Symptoms of adrenal crisis
- hypotension
- cardiovascular collapse
- fatigue
- fever
- hypocalcaemia
- hyponatraemia
- hyperkalaemia
management of adrenal crisis
1 - take bloods if possible for measurement of cortisol and ACTH
2 - immediate hydrocortisone 100mg intravenous/intramuscular injection (subcutaneous if absolutely necessary) –> this should be done immediately, if they don’t have adrenal crisis, the hydrocortisone will do them no harm
3 - fluid resuscitation with 1L of normal saline per hour
4- Hydrocortisone 50-100mg iv or im every 6 hours
5- in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency, start fludrocortisone 100-200mg (when hydrocortisone done is <50mg)
6- when patient is stable, wean to normal replacement over 24-72 hours (10mg orally on final day)
limit of hydrocortisone treatment- and potential solution
Hydrocortisone doesnt mimic the natural circadian rhythm of cortisol. A new treatment is being developed called Chronocort- delayed release product that works due to a specific polymer coating that only dissolves at pH 6.8 i.e. when it reaches the ileum. it is taken before bed and can mimic the gradual rise in cortisol that occurs overnight. A second dose is taken in the morning.
What is the difference between Acromegaly and Gigantism?
Both are caused by a growth-hormone producing pituitary adenoma, but acromegaly presents with increase in size of extremities and occurs after puberty. Elongation of bones can only occur during or before puberty, therefore gigantism can only occur before/during puberty.
How does growth hormone affect tissues?
Growth hormone binds to GH receptors in the liver, which then in turn secrete hormone IGF-1. IGF-1 acts on many tissues to cause growth and increase blood pressure.
Why does acromegaly usually have a delayed diagnosis?
Acromegaly has a slow progression which causes it to have a delayed diagnosis- average 8 year delay.
Comorbidities which can be caused by acromegaly include
cerebrovascular events, headache, arthritis, type 2 diabetes m, sleep apnoea, hypertension, heart disease and increased risk of colon and breast cancer
3 principles of diagnosing acromegaly
1- recognition of clinical features
2- GH levels
3- IGF-1 levels
relationship between acromegaly and IGF-1/GH Levels
GH secretion is usually pulsatile with highest levels occuring overnight- in between pulses, GH levels are normally low. In someone with Acromegaly, there are no pulses and GH levels are high all the time- this is because the GH is released autonomously from a pituitary tumour and does not respond to negative feedback from IGF-1.
Testing for acromegaly
(1) Measure serum GH and IGF-1 levels
(2) If either of these are abnormal, perform the glucose tolerance test (give patient 75g oral glucose- this should suppress GH levels if acromegaly not present. If GH levels are less than 1mcg/L 60 mins post glucose, then acromegaly is excluded
Options for treatment of acromegaly
(1) Surgery
(2) Medical treatment
(3) Radiotherapy
Surgical treatment of acromegaly;
- advantages
- determinants of success
Surgical treatment of acromegaly is often the first choice because there is prospect of cure, rapid fall in GH (relieving symptoms), surgeon can decompress surrounding structures being compressed by tumour and it is cost effective as patient will not need ongoing treatment.
Surgery success is determined by
(1) size of tumour- microadenoma has a much higher surgical cure rate
(2) Surgeon– more skilled surgeons can remove most of tumour
Radiotherapy for acromegaly
- determinants of efficacy
- disadvantages
efficacy of radiotherapy is determined by:
- GH levels- really high levels, less likely to reach safe levels with conventional therapy
- how much the tumour has extended- massive tumour makes it less likely that safe levels of GH will be achieved after conventional therapy
Disadvantages:
- can take up to 10 years for mean serum GH levels to fall post radiotherapy
- The delayed response means patients require medical management in the meantime
- Can damage the surrounding normal pituitary structures, resulting in hypopituitarism; fall in gonadotropins, then ACTH then TSH . Around 50% if patients will have a gonadotropin deficiency post radiotherapy
- conventional radiotherapy increases risk of stroke and reduces cognitive function
Medical therapy options for acromegaly & cons
(1) dopamine agonists e.g. cabergoline- taken twice weekly to control GH and IGF-1 levels
- Cons; responses can vary widely from patient to patient- patients with lower levels of IGF-1 at beginning less likely to respond
(2) Somatostatin analogues- eg. Octrocide and lancreotide- injection. Somatostatin inhibits many hormones (binds to all 5 receptor subtypes including receptor subtype 2 which is particularly related to GH)
- cons; must be injected & many side effects (e.g GI symptoms, gallstones, glycaemic control may worsen due to effects on GH and insulin)
(3) GH Receptor antagonists e.g. pegvisomant- makes the GH site that interacts with the receptor more strongly binding and the dimerising site less strongly binding- thus acts as a competitive antagonist of GH at the receptor. Administered subcutaneously once a day
- cons of pegvisomant; very expensive- prescription tightly regulated by the NHS. Also, will not affect tumour size so tumour may continue to grow and compress other structures
Acromegaly signs
- Growth of hands, coarsening face/wide nose, big supraorbital ridges
- Macroglossia and widely spaced teeth
- Puffy lids/eyelids/skin, skin darkening, sleep apnoea
- Carpal tunnel
Acromegaly symptoms
- Acroparesthesia (burning/tingling/prickling/numbness sensations in the extremities) - Headache
- Decreased libido, increased sweating
- Snoring
- Backache
what is prolactinoma?
Risk factor for prolactinoma
Prolactinoma- pituitary adenoma resulting in overproduction of prolactin
Females are much more likely to get prolactinomas than men (reason not yet clear)
clinical features of prolactinoma
- local effects if tumour is a macroadenoma= headache, visual field defects, CSF leak in rare cases
- effects of prolactin include menstrual irregularity or amenorrhoea, infertility, galactorrhea, low libido, low testosterone in men
why is it important to conduct a thorough drug history on a patient with suspected hyperprolactinaemia?
Patients on anti-dopamine medications will have high prolactin levels- e.g. patients who are on anti-psychotics will usually always have high dopamine levels and therefore cannot be treated with a dopamine agonist (as the antagonist they are taking is usually important for treatment of other condition)
management of prolactinoma
Prolactinomas are managed medically rather than surgically using a dopamine agonist e.g. cabergoline, bromocriptine or quiagolide. Cabergoline given in small doses e.g. 025-0.5mg once per week.
Main role and 3 actions of PTH
Parathyroid hormone maintains serum calcium levels by;
1) increased calcium reabsorption at the kidney
2) increased calcium absorption in the intestine
3) increased calcium resorption from bones
PTH action in kidney
- increases calc reabsoprtion
- decreases phosphate absorption
- increases 1alpha hydroxylation of 25-OH vit D, so increass active form of vit D (1,25-OH vit D)
PTH action in intestine
Indirectly causes increased Calc absorption because of increased 1,2-OH vit D levels
PTH action in bone
PTH favours bone resorption by osteoclasts more than bone formation by osteoblasts, by increasing bone remodelling.
How are calcium levels maintained?
a negative feedback system; small changes in serum calcium result in large changes in PTH.
If calcium levels decrease by 10%, PTH levels double.
If calcium levels increase by 10%, PTH decreases by 70%.
When might a patient appear to have hypocalcaemia without actually having it?
A low serum albumin can result in low total serum calcium because calcium ions normally bind to albumin - but it will not result in a low ionised calcium.
How do you calculate corrected calcium using serum calcium?
Corrected calcium= total serum calcium + 0.02(40-serum albumin)
Consequences of hypocalcaemia
- paraesthesia (pins and needles of extremities/peri-oral area)
- Muscle spasms of hands and feet, larynx and can cause premature labour
- seizures
- basal ganglia calcification if chronic
- cataracts if chronic
- ECG abnormalities- long QT interval
clinical signs of hypocalcaemia
- Chvostek’s sign- tap over facial nerve as it exits parotid, if patient is hypocalcaemic, there will be spasm of facial muscles
- Trossaeu’s sign- inflate BP cuff 20mmHg above patient’s systolic BP for 5 mins on arm. Hand will take characteristic shape due to muscle spasm.
Causes of hypocalcaemia
osteomalacia (due to vit D deficiency), hypoparathyoidism, surgical hypoparathyroidism, autoimmune conditions, magnesium deficiency, acute rhabdomylosis, respiratory alkalosis, pseudohypoparathyroidism (tissue resistance to PTH), acute pancreatitis
Management of hypocalcaemia
- mild symptoms; give calcium 5mmol/6h
- severe symptoms; give 10ml of 10% caclium gluconate (2.25mmol) IV over 30 min, repeat as necessary. If due to alkalosis, correct alkalosis.
what is psuedohypoparathyroidism?
Pseudohypoparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid glands detect and secrete PTH normally, but target tissues don’t respond to PTH for some reason. Can be genetic e.g. type I Albright Hereditary osteodystrophy, where mutation results in a deficiency in the G protein of the receptor. Type Ia patients miss ring finger knuckle (+ short stature, obesity, round facies)
Hypercalcaemia- clinical presentations
Bones, Stones, Moans, Groans, Thrones & Psychic Groans
- Bone conditions- e.g. osteitis fibrosa cystica (due to PTH overproduction which leads to overstimulation of osteoclasts)
- Stones- kidney stones, diabetes insipidus
- Abdominal pain and vomiting
- Polyuria & constipation
- Thirst
- Confusion possibly leading to delirium
Causes of hypercalcaemia
- primary hyperparathyroidism
- tertiary hyperparathyroidism-in renal failure, kidneys cannot activate vit D so patients get functional vit D deficiency -> leads to decreased calc absorption from gut and subsequent decrease in serum calcium. PTH levels increase as they should and this results in nodular hyperplasia and autonomy. As a result, bone resorption increases and the person becomes chronically hypercalcaemic and develops osteoporosis.
- Malignancy
- Thiazides
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Familial hypocalciuric/ benign hypercalcaemia
- Milk-Alkali syndrome
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Phaeochromocytoma
Consequences of primary hyperparathyroidism
bones, stones, groans and psychic moans
what can happen to the Parathyroid glands following tertiary hyperparathyroidism?
If tertiary hyperparathyroidism occcurs, PTH levels will rise. if this becomes chronic, then the glands undergo changes because the cells of the gland are in overdrive, causing nodular hyperplasia (glands become abnormally enlarged) and autonomy (paathyroid glands stop responding to external calcium signals and are switched on all the time)
what changes to calcium absorption occur during tertiary hyperparathyroidism and what is the risk? What will happen to phosphate levels?
The renal failure in tertiary hyperparathyroidism means that calcium cannot be absorbed effectively from the gut or reabsorbed from the kidney, but bone resorption still allows for increased serum calcium. The resultant increase in resorption means the person can become hypercalcaemic and develop osteoporosis.
Patient will have chronic hyperphosphataemia. normally when PTH is high, phosphate is excreted by the kidneys but it cant in patients with renal failure- so serum levels of phosphate increase.
VIt D Deficiency (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH action appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level increases
- Calcium level decreases
- Phosphate level increases
- PTH action appropriate
Hypoparathyroidism
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH action appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level decreases
- Calcium level increases
- Phosphate level decreases
- PTH action inappropriate
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level increases
- Calcium level decreases
- Phosphate level increases
- PTH action appropriate
Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level normal
- Calcium level normal
- Phosphate level normal
- PTH action appropriate
Hypercalcaemia of malignancy
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level decreases
- Calcium level increases
- Phosphate level decreases or could be normal (depends on cancer mechanism)
- PTH action appropriate
Primary hyperparathyroidism
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level increases
- Calcium level increases
- Phosphate level decreases
- PTH action inappropriate
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism
- PTH level
- Calcium level
- Phosphate level
- PTH appropriate or inappropriate?
- PTH level increases
- Calcium level increaeses
- Phosphate level increases
- PTH action inappropriate?