Endocrinology: Adrenal & Thyroid gland and pancreas Flashcards
What are the 3 zones of the adrenal cortex?
- Zona glomerulosa
- Zona Fasiculata
- Zona Reticularis
What hormones are produced from the adrenal cortex and from which area?
- Mineralcorticoid (Aldosterone) Zona Glomerulosa
- Glucocorticoids (Cortisol) - Zona fasciculata
- Adroden precursor (DHEA) Zona reticularis
All hormones produced in the adrenal cortex are made from what compenent?
Cholesterol
Where are all adrenocortical steroids broken down
The liver -> Excreted in urine of as bile
Explain the hypothalamo-pituitary-axis and the control of cortisol section
- CRH released from hypothalamus
- Causes release of ACTH from Ant Pituitary gland
- Acts on Adrenal cortisol to stimulated productions of cortisol (also androgens)
- Follows cicadium rhythm
- Negative feedback of cortisol
What are the effects of cortisol
Gluconeogensis - increase glucose
Catabolic effect - decreases protein stores
Anti-inflammatory effects
Explain the release of aldosterone secretion
1) Key detector of changes of perfusion/electrolyes is the juxtaglomerular appartatus within the glomerulus. The juxaglomerular cells on the afferent ariteriole, produce renin.
Renin converts Angiotensin (liver) -> angiotensin 1
ACE (lungs) converts angiotensin 1 -> angiotensin 2
Angiotensin 2 -> Increaseses aldosterone production, vasoconstriction and increases thirst.
2) High K causes release of aldosterone
What are the effects of aldosterone on the kidney?
Reabsorbtion of Na and K excretion.
Water follows Na passively, increases volume of fluid
What is produced in the adrenal medulla? Name the cells that produce this hormone
Epinephrine & Norepinephrine
Chromafin cells
What are catecholamines (epineprhine, thryoid, melatonin) made from
Tyrosine
How is the output of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla controlled?
What is the half life of carecholamines?
Posterior hypothalamus stimulates the release of acetylcholine form the preganglionic nerve terminals, these depolarise the chromaffin cells.
Very short - 1-2 minutes
Catecholeamines act on 2 broad caterogories of G protein couple receptors what are these?
Alpha-adrenergic -> diverts blood to skeletal muslce from bowel/liver/spleen
Beta adrenergic -> increase HR, stroke volume, BP, mobilisation of gluose, lioplysis
What is the difference between cushing disease and cushing syndrome?
Cushing disease: Excess glucorticoid from ACTH secreting pitutiary tumour
Cushing syndrome: Ectopic ACTH e.g. lung tumor - may not have classic symptoms
What are the clinical features of cushings syndrome
- Moon face
- Weight gain with central obesity
- HTN
- Mental change
- Hirsuitism
- Striae
- ACEne
- Osteoporosis
- +/- other hypopituarism - hypothyroid, hypogondism, low GH
What screening tests for cushings can you consider?
Measure cortisol (24hrs, midnight level)
Low dose dexamethasone test combined with CRH test
Management of cushings
Surgical (pituitary tumour, adrenalectomy)
Medical:
- Prevent hypokalaemia, K sparing diuretic, K supplement
- Cushing syndrome - somatostatin analogues, adrenal steroid inhibitor
What is Conns syndrome?
Primary hypoeraldosteronism
- Excess aldosterone, rentetion of Na and excretion of K, high BP
What are the causes of Conn Syndrome?
Adrenal adenoma
Adrenal gland hyperplasia
Adrenal carcinoma
Who should you suspect Conns Syndrome in?
Unproked hypokalaemia
Persistant hypokalaemia despite K sparing diuretics
Refactory HTN
What is the classic biochemical finding of conns syndrome
Low K
Metabolic alkalosis
Test plama aldosterone/plasma renin ratio (not on antihypertensives)
What are the treatment options for Conns Syndrome
If from a adrenal tumour -> surgical removal
If bilateral renal hyperplasia -> Medications (Spironolactone but has estogen SE; impotence and gynacomastia or Eplerenone; anti-aldosterone)
What is a phaeochromocytoma & where does it arise?
Rare catecholamine secreting tumour of the sympathetic nervous system
90% adrenal
10% sympathetic chain
Excessive catecholmine can lead to what life threatening situations?
Life threatening HTN
Cardiac arrythmia
Investigation for phaeochromocytoma
- Plasma metanephrine
- 24 hour urine catecholamine
- Radioisotope imaging
Managment of phaeochromocytoma
- Surgical removal
- Pre-op Alpha adrenergic and b andrenergic blockade - to help prevent catecholmine storm with GA or operaitive handling
What are the causes of hypoadrenlism?
- Addisions (Primary) due to abrupt cessation of exogenic steroids (>99%)
- Addisons (Primary) due to autoimmunity/infection/haemorrhage/drugs (ketoconazole)
- Seconday - pituitary diease
- Tertiary - Hypothalamic disease
What are the symptoms of addisions disease?
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Pigmentation
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Abdo pain
What are classic biochemical features of hypoadrenalism?
Low Na
High K
High Ca
How do you test for hypoadrenalism
ACTH suppression test
Give synthetic ACTH & measure cortisol + ACTH
Primary: High ACTH, low cortisol
Secondary: Low ACTH, low (but slightly increased) cortistol
Acute management of adrenal crisis
A-E approach
IV access with fluid repalcemnt NaCl
Measure +/- replace glucose
100mg hydrocortisone , further 100-200mg over 24 hours
Long term
- 2-3 daily doses hydrocortisone
- Fludrocortisone
- No mineralcorticoid replacment needed
- Some replace DHEA in females
- sick day rules for hydrocortisone
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Autosome reccessive disoders, enzyme deficient involved in the productions of cortisol or aldosterone. Examples 21-hydroxylase.
What is the clinical presentation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Depends on severity and sex of the child.
- Severe: Salt-wasting at weeks 1-4 (hypotension, low Na, highK, shock)
- Severe famale: Ambigious genitalia at birth
- Mild females: Precocious pubic hair, clitoromegaly, accelerated growth (simple virilising adrenal hyperplasia)
- Milder female: oligomenrrorhia, hirsiutism +/- infertility
- No breast/mensus +/- HTN
- Men have normal genitialia