Endocrinology Flashcards
Hormones released from the anterior pituitary gland
LH FSH TSH Prolactin ACTH GH
Hormones released from the posterior pituitary gland
Vasopressin/ADH
Oxytocin
Pathophysiology of T1DM
Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells in the islets of Langerhans
Pathophysiology of T2DM
Decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance peripherally
Maturity onset diabetes of the young is what kind of diabetes
Type 2
Rare autosomal dominant
What is an impaired glucose tolerance?
Fasting <7mmol/L (otherwise this is diabetes)
2 hour glucose >7.8mmol/L but <11.1mmol/L
What is impaired fasting glucose?
Fasting >6.1 but <7mmol/L
What is metabolic syndrome/ syndrome X?
Central obesity (BMI>30) BP 130/85 fasting glucose >5.6 T2DM Various forms of hyperlipidaemia
Diagnosis of T2DM
Symptoms of hyperglycaemia and raised venous glucose detected once- fasting >7mmol/L or random >11.1
OR
Raised venous glucose on two separate occassions
HbA1c >48mmol/mol
Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
Polyuria, polydipsia, unexplained weight loss, visual blurring, genital thrush, lethargy
Clinical features of hypoglycaemia
Autonomic- sweating, anxiety, hunger, tremor, palpitations, dizziness
Neuroglycopenic- confusion, drowsiness, visual trouble, seizures, coma, rarely focal neurology, personality change, restlessness
Definition of hypoglycaemia
<4mmol/L plasma glucose
Fasting hypoglycaemia aetiology
Insulin or sulphonylurea treatment in a diabetic is the top cause Non-diabetics EXogenous drugs- insulin, oral hypoglycaemics Pituitary insufficicency Liver failure Addison's disease Islet cell tumours- insulinoma Neoplasms
Effect of active T3 and T4 in the body
Increase cell metabolism
Increase catecholamine effects
Why should TFTs be taken at the same time each day?
Trough at 2pm and higher in the night- variation throughout
Sick euthyroid tests
All low- should recover after illness, retest once recovered
What are anti-TPO antibodies and when are they raised?
Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Raised in autoimmune disease- Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease
If positive in Graves then there is a chance of hypothyroidism following
TSH receptor antibody present in
Graves’ disease
Serum thyroglobulin useful as
A tumour marker to monitor the treatment of carcinoma
Clinical features of thyrotoxicosis
Symptoms- diarrhoea, weight loss, increased appetite, over-active, sweaty, heat intolerant, palpitations, tremor, irritability, labile emotions, oligomenorrhoea +/- infertility
Rarely psychosis, chorea, panic, itch, alopecia, urticaria
Signs- tachycardic, irregular pulse, warm moist skin, fine tremor, palmar erythema, thin hair, lid lag, lid retraction
Examination- goitre, thyroid nodules, bruit
Signs specific to Graves’ disease
Exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis
Pretibial myxoedema
Thyroid acropatchy
Tests in thyrotoxicosis
May be mild normocytic anaemia Mild neutropenia Raised T3 and T4 Low TSH Raised ESR Raised Ca Raised LFTs Thyroid autoantibodies- TPO and TSH receptor antibody
Treatment of thyrotoxicosis
Symptomatic control with beta blockers- propanolol
Anti-thyroid hormone- carbimazole ‘block’
Levothyroxine ‘replace’
Radioiodine if become hypothyroid post-treatment, though beware thyroid storm
Thyroidectomy
Causes of thyroid goitre
Physiological
Graves’ disease
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Subacute de Quervain’s thyroiditis (self-limiting post-illness)
Clinical features of hypothyroidism
Symptoms- tiredness, lethargic, decreased mood, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, menorrhagia, hoarse voice, decreased memory/ cognition, dementia, myalgia, cramps, weakness
Signs- bradycardic, reflexes relax slowly, ataxia, dry thin hair/ skin, yawning, drowsiness, coma, cold hands, ascites, round puffy face, defeated demeanour, immobile,
Aetiology of hypothyroidism
Primary atrophic hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis-goitre
Drug induced- amiodarone, anti-thyroid, lithium, iodine
Secondary due to hypopituitarism
What is myxoedema coma?
The ultimate hypothyroid state before death
Risks from subclinical hyperthyroidism
AF and osteoporosis
Actions of parathyroid hormone
Increasing osteoclast activity releasing calcium and phosphate from the bones
Increases calcium reabsorption in the kidneys and acts as a phosphaturic agent
Increases hydroxylation of 1-hydroxycholecalciferol in the kidney to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol which acts to increase calcium uptake from the intestines
Primary hyperparathyroidism clinical features
Symptoms- signs relating to hypercalcaemia
Bone pain, fractures and osteopenia/osteoporosis
HTN
Signs of hypercalcaemia
Weak, tired, depressed, thirsty Dehydrated but polyuric Renal stones Abdominal pain Pancreatitis Ulcers Psychosis
Tests for primary hyperparathyroidism
Calcium (increased) PTH (increased) Phosphate (decreased) ALP (increased) Pepper pot skull on XR DEXA for osteoporosis