Endocrinology Exam 1 Cards Flashcards
P3 Zones of the Adrenal Cortex and what they secrete
Glomerulosa - Salt
Fasciculata - Sugar
Reticularis - Sex
3 effects of aldosterone on the body
Water and sodium retention
Potassium Excretion
Increased BP
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System
Kidney detects low perfusion pressure
JG cells release Renin
Renin cleaves Angiotensinogen to Angiotensin I
ACE in lungs cleaves AT I to AT II
AT II stimulates release of Aldosterone
Trigger for release of Cortisol
Stress
3 functions of cortisol
Gluconeogenesis
Immune system suppression
Decreased inflammation
When is cortisol the highest? and why?
In the morning because it needs to wake you up
Main sex hormone secreted by the Zona reticularis
DHEA
Role of DHEA
Stimulates, controls and maintains the development of sex characteristics
2 secretions of the adrenal medulla
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
What inhibits CRH release
Cortisol
Desmolase
CYP11A1
17 alpha hydroxylase
CYP21A2
21 hydroxylase
CYP21A2
Aromatase
CYP19
Aldosterone Synthase
CYP11B2
11 beta hydroxylase
CYP11B1
4 possible cholesterol products from the adrenal cortex
DHEA
5-Dihydrotestosterone
Cortisone
Aldosterone
Role of desmolase
Kicks off the process, without it no products are made
Role of 3 beta HSD
Moves steroids away from becoming DHEA, without it only DHEA can be produced
Role of 17 alpha hydroxylase
Moves steroids towards becoming DHEA, without it only aldosterone can be produced
Role of 11 betahydroxylase
Required to synthesize cortisol only
Role of CYP11B2
Aldosterone synthase, not needed for cortisol synthesis
Role of aromatase
Converts androgens to estrogens
(women smell good)
Primary gland
Last gland in the line (ie. the adrenal glands)
Addison’s disease
Usually autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex - results in a loss of glucocorticoids AND mineral corticoids
Most commonly affected enzyme in Addison’s disease
21-hydroxylase
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Accumulation of long chain fatty acids in the adrenal cortex which blunt the effect of ACTH
Drug that diminishes cortisol synthesis
Mitotane
3 drugs that accelerate the metabolism of cortisol
Phenytoin, Barbituates, Rifampin
(Notice 2 of them are CYP inducers)
Drug that inhibits cortisol biosynthesis
Ketoconazole
2 causes of acute addisons disease
Adrenal hemmorhage
Adrenal Crisis
Adrenal Crisis
When a patient with addison’s disease is stimulated by a stressor that requires additional adrenal hormones beyond what they are regularaly receiving
Cause of hyperpigmentation in addison’s disease
ACTH attaches to the melanotic receptors
Cause of vitiligo in Addison’s disease
Antibodies that destroy adrenal cortex, also destroy melanocytes
4 hallmarks of an adrenal crisis
Severe fever - Not in adrenal hemmorhage
Severe abdominal pain
Confusion
Hypotensive shock
(Looks a lot like sepsis)
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Accumulation of long chain fatty acids in the adrenal cortex which blunt the effect of ACTH
2 CBC findings for Addison’s disease
Eosinophilia and Lymphocytosis
Why would you want a blood sputum or urine culture in a suspected adrenal crisis
Because you may be able to find a precipitating cause
Diagnostic and rule out levels of cortisol for Addision’s disease
Under 3 with high ACTH, Over 25 mcg/dL
Plasma ACTH indicative of Addison’s disease
Over 200 pg/mL
Cause of hidden hyperkalemia in Addison’s disease
Vomiting leading to potassium loss
Plasma Renin Activity
Can help diagnose the need for mineralcorticoid replacement but is also very finicky
ACTH stimulation test indication for addisons
administer ACTH and check cortisol in increase
Increase less than 20mc/dL is indicative of Addison’s (not a great test)
When might you use an ACTH stimulation test?
When serum cortisol or serum ACTH are non-diagnostic
How might imaging help in an adrenal crisis and what would you order?
Identification of an underlying etiology
Order a CXR or Abdominal CT
Standard Treatment for Addison’s disease
Hydrocortison PO 15-30mg daily with 2/3rds in the morning and 1/3rd at night
Can also use 3-6 mg prednisone the same way
Cortisone dose adjustment for Addison’s patients with chronic disease
Increase up to 50%
Return to baseline upon stressor resolution
Mineralcorticoid therapy for Addison’s disease
Covered by a “stress” dose of cortisone
If not on a stress dose - use fludracortison .05-3mg daily
Monitor PRA
4 Steps in managing an adrenal crisis
Order serum cortisol and ACTH (don’t wait for results) if undiagnosed
Give an IV hydrocortisone loading dose
Give IV cortisone for 24 hours and then taper
Switch to oral once the patient can tolerate it (isn’t vomiting)
Non-cortisol management of an adrenal crisis
Give broad spectrum antibiotics and adjust with cultures
Treat electrolyte and volume abnormalities
3 things to monitor for in an Addison’s patient
Development of Cushing syndrome
CBC/CMP normality
DEXA scan for osteoporosis (from steroid use)
2 things you might give an Addison’s patient to help them manage emergencies
Emergency injection kit and Zophran for nausea
Cushing Syndrome
Excessive administration of corticosteroids
(ACTH independent)
Cushing disease
Excessive secretion of cortisol due to excess ACTH
(ACTH dependant)
3 less obvious presentations of cushing’s disease
Easy bruising
Proximal muscle weakness
Immune system suppression
3 s/s assocaited with high ACTH
Hyperpigmentation
High BP
Hirsutism/Hair loss
3 H’s
What do NEW stretch marks look like?
Purple not Gray/Brown
2 CBC findings for cushings
Decreased leukocytes and eosinophils
3 CMP findings for Cushing’s
Elevated glucose, hypernatremia and hypokalemia (if Aldosterone is effected
MCC of Cushing’s
Pituitary tumor
3 steps in a cushings diagnostic workup
Establish endogenous or exogenous source
Establish presence of hypercortisolism
Determine cause of hypercortisolism
3 first line tests for hypercortisolism
Dexamethasone, 24 Hour Urine free cortisol, Late night salivary cortisol
Number of positive tests needed for hypercortisolism diagnosis
2
Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test
Give 1 mg PO at 11PM test serum cortisol at 8 AM
Result for dexamethasone suppression test that likely excludes cushing disease
Less than 5mcg/dL
24 Hour urine free cortisol test
Begin collection AFTER first morning void and continue through first void of the next day
Positive 24 hour urine free cortisol result
3x upper limit on two occasions points to Cushing disease
6 interfering factors for a late night salivary cortisol test
Bleeding, brushed teeth, oral intake, steroid use, pregnancy, erratic schedule
When to take a late night salivary cortisol test
11 PM
Positive salivary cortisol test
Elevated cortisol found on TWO separate occasions
Assay to determine cause of hypercortisolism
Serum ACTH
Values for serum ACTH and next step for each
Under 20 = low = Adrenal CT
Over 20 = high = Pituitary MRI
3 red flags for a malignant adrenal adenoma
Over 4 cm
Growing nodule
Density over 10 Housfield Units (HU)
HU
Hounsfield unit - measurement of radiographic density (water is 0)
Findings for pituitary MRI and interpretation thereof
Under 5mm - Inferior petrosal sinus sampling
Over 5mm - Begin treatment
Search for ectopic source of cushings
Chest/Abdomen CT first
Full body PET scan second
Management for exogenous Cushing’s
Slowly reduce exogenous glucocorticoid ACTH therapy
Short acting glucocorticoid that can help with recovery of HPA axis
Hydrocortisone
First line treatment tumor precipitated cushings
Surgical removal or radiation - can result in a need for glucocorticoid replacement
Medications that can manage an adrenal adenoma (3)
11b hydroxylase inhibitors such as:
Metyrapone
Osilodrostat
Ketoconazole
Medication that can manage ACTH tumor
Pasireotide - somatostatin analog
Two first line and one second line medication to manage mineralocorticoid HTN
K sparing diuretics
Spironolactone or Eplerenone
Second line - ACEI
1 drug for hyperandrogenism in women
Flutamide
Role of the StAR protein
Regulates steroid biosynthesis by allowing cholesterol into the mitochondria
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia w/ inheritance pattern
Autosomal recessive deficiency in steroid producing enzymes
MC deficiency in CAH
21 alpha hydroxylase
2 classic presentations for CAH
Salt wasting due to aldosterone deficiency
Virializing due to androgen excess
5 signs of salt wasting
vomiting, dehydration, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypotensive shock
3 protein deficiencies that can lead to ambiguous genitalia
StAR protein
3 beta hydroxysteroid deficiency
17 alpha hydroxylase deficiency
2 things that are increased in a 21 hydroxylase deficiency
17-hydroxyprogesterone
Serum DHEA
workup for CAH suspicion
Get electrolytes
Use imaging if needed to rule out other disorders (abdomen CT and Pelvic US)
Goal of CAH treatment
Give just enough Aldosterone and Cortisol to keep things normal
Hydrocortisone administration for CAH
Initially 1-2 mg/kg/day (suprephysiologic
Maintainance .3-.5 mg/kg/day
TID - even doses as a baby, 2/3 1/3 as an adult
Fludrocortisone administration for CAH
Aldosterone substitute
.05-.15 mg daily while monitoring BP and plasma renin activity
What to watch for in CAH hydrocortisone administration in order to ensure that is is working
17-hydroxyprogesterone level normalization
Primary hyperaldosteroneism
Hypersecretion of aldosterone that cannot be suppressed by giving sodium
Clinical presentation of Primary Hyperaldosteroneism
Refractory hypertension
Headaches
Hypokalemia (weakness, paresthesia, fatigue)
2 BMP findings that could indicate hyperaldosteroneism
Hypernatremia, Increased CO2 (represents Bicarb)
PAC/PRA
Plasma renin activity/Plasma aldosterone concentration
Timing for PAC/PRA
Do in the AM while seated
Normal aldosterone/renin ratio
Under 10
4 BP meds that do not effect PAC/PRA ratio
Slow release verapamil, Hydralazine, terazosin, doxazosin
Oral and IV methods for sodium loading
Oral - 3 days of unrestricted salt (over 5g/day)
IV - 2L NS over 4 Hours
Determination of adequate oral sodium loading and next steps
Urine sodium over 250 and normal urine creatinine - begin 24 hour urine collection
Confirmatory result for oral sodium loading
24 hour urine aldosterone concentration of over 12
Confirmatory result for IV sodium loading
Plasma aldosterone concentration of over 10ng/dL
Conn syndrome
Adrenal mass smaller than 4cm
Likely adrenal carcinoma
Adrenal mass larger than 4 cm
Adrenal vein sampling
LAST resort if considering an adenectomy and HTN is severely uncontrolled
2 potassium sparing diuretics for primary hyperaldosteroneism
Spironolactone or eplerenone (more expensive with fewer SEs)
2 Additional BP meds for primary hyperaldosteronism
ACEI, HCTZ
incidentaloma
A tumor that we were not looking for but found
Rule of 10s for pheochromocytoma
10% bilateral
10% extra-adrenal
10% malignant
Classic pheochromocytoma triad
Episodic palpitations, diaphoresis, sweating - combined with HTN
3 things that can precipitate a pheochromocytoma
Stress, Position change, Urination
How long do pheochromocytoma episodes last?
Usually under an hour
Workup for Pheochromocytoma
Plasma free metanephrines
Sitting, then laying down, then urine - 24 hour preferred
Metanephrine threshold diagnostic for pheochromocytoma
3x the upper limit
Imaging for Pheochromocytoma
CT/MRI - chest, abdomen, pelvis
PET scan for malignancy rule-out
Management of pheochromocytoma
Refer to surgery, assess ACTH level post-op
Pre-surgery management of Pheochromocytoma
Alpha adrenergic blockers with high salt and water diet started 3 days later
3 Alpha blockers for pheochromocytoma management
Doxazosin, Prasosin, Terzosin
Functional v Nonfunctional adrenal adenoma demographic
Functional - Younger pts
Non-functional - Older pts
4 History findings pointing to an adrenal carcinoma
Fever, weight loss, abdominal fullness, back pain
Physical exam findings for adrenal carcinoma
Palpable, firm, adherent mass of the abdomen
When should fine needle aspiration be done for an adrenal carcinoma
ONLY when there is known metastasis already and pt does not have pheochromocytoma
Management of adrenal carcinoma
Stage and refer to surgery
Only glucocorticoid offered as a syrup
Prednisolone
Indication for glucocorticoid titration
Therapy longer than 7-10 days
3 things to monitor in patients on glucocorticoids
Glucose, Na retention, K+ loss
5 side effects of glucocorticoids
Gastric irritation/Peptic ulcer
Hypertension
CHF
Osteoporosis
Glaucoma
How can thyroid gland growth cause horseness
It can impinge the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Thyroglobulin
Large protein from which thyroid hormones are cleaved
Difference between T3 and T4
T3 is active, T4 is stable
Reverse T3
Non-functional form of T3 which is made in the tissues in stressful circumstances and cannot be used
Taking directions for thyroid hormone
MUST be taken on an empty stomach
Primary thyroid hormone binding protein
Thyroxine binding globulin
Which thyroid hormone is converted in the tissues
T4 to T3
Action of thyroid hormone
Increases functional activity in the tissues
Thyroid hormone effect on heart strength
Helps with a small increase but pathologic with a large increase
4 things usually on a thyroid panel
TSH, Total T3, Total T4, Free T4
Peak and trough for TSH levels
Peak at 10pm, Trough at 10am
What does an abnormal Total T3 or T4 level indicate
An increase or decrease in Thyroid Binding Globulin
Why might a patient only have T3 and no T4
They are on a T3 only medication
Binding protein for thyroid hormone
TBG - Thyroid Binding Globulin
2 things that can increase TBG levels
Estrogen, Infectious hepatitis
Result of maternal hypothyroidism
Significant decrease in fetal IQ
MCC of hypothyroidism in developed and underdeveloped countries
Developed - Hashimotos
Worldwide - Iodine deficiency
4 facial signs of hypothyroidism
Dry coarse hair, thinning of lateral eyebrows, Periorbital edema, puffy dull face (myxedema)
2 antibodies to screen for in hashimoto’s thyroiditis with chances of a positive result
Anti-Thyroid peroxidase (90-95%)
Antithyroglobulin (70%)
When might thyroid imaging be useful
Detection of thyromegaly or thyroid nodule
What will an ultrasound of a hashimoto’s thyroid look like compared to a normal one
Lack of smoothness - the thyroid should have a very uniform texture
Myxedema crisis
Triggered most often in elderly women who have a stroke or stop taking meds:
Hypo - thermia, tension, ventilation, glycemia, natremia
Medication for myxedema crisis
IV Levothyroxine (L4)
Liothyronine
T3 medication - remember T4 levels will be zero
Subclinical hypothyroidism
Normal FT4 with High TSH
Observe for s/s
Goal of thyroid hormone therapy
Normalize TSH levels