Fatigue (Raff) Flashcards
A 48 year old woman comes to your office complaining of fatigue and tiredness. • Physical Examination: No obvious abnormalities. – BP - normal – Height/weight – BMI not increased – Menstrual History – menopause at 45 y.o. – Normal fasting blood glucose
List Top 3 Possible Diagnosis (endocrine obviously) in the order you would evaluate them
Adrenal insufficiency: order ACTH or co-syntropin test
Hypothyroidism
Hypercalcemia
You suspect your patient has Adrenal insufficiency. What labs would you order
ACTH stimulation test: baseline cortisol, and aldosterone levels
What imaging would you want to get if you suspect adrenal insufficiency?
If it looks like primary adrenal insuffiecinecy get a CT of the abdomen
if you suspect 2nd adrenal insufficiency get CT of the pituitiary
What is a very common cause of adrenal insuffiency?
Addisons
Explain secondary adrenal insuffiency
Pituitary is not putting enough ACTH out thus adrenal gland atrophies; ACTH will ALWAYS be elevated in primary adrenal insufficiency
What symptoms do you expect to see with hypercalcemia? What about hypocalcemia?
Hypercalcemia: weakness: bones/stone/groans
Hypocalcemia: tetany
What labs and test would you order for a pt you suspect has Hashimotos?
Get TSH levels
Primary hypthyroidism you would see elevated TSH
In secondary hypothyroidis you would see low or inappropriately not elevated TSH so levels may look normal
What tests would you order for a pt you suspect has Hypercalciuria?
Look at serum Ca+ levels: if elevated, order PTH levels
If Ca+ is elevated and PTH is elevated or inappropriately NOT low; likely primary hypercalcinemia–> a tumor is secreating PTH causing increase in Ca+ levels called primary hyperparathyroidism
What could cause Secondary Hypercalciuria?
A rPTH secreating tumor may do this
Where is Ca+ aborbed in the GI system?
GI Calcium Absorption
- 20-70% (highest in children) is Abosrbed and
- 90% in duodenum and jejunum
By what process is Ca+ absorbed in the GI tract?
- Energy-dependent, cell-mediated process regulated by 1,25(OH)2D
- Passive diffusional paracellular pathway
What promotes Ca+ absorption
what inhibits it?
Promotes: PTH which is released when there is low plasma Ca++
Inhibited by High plasma calcium thus no PTH is realsease
What affect does PTH have on the kideys?
The Intestine?
The bones?
Kidneys: Causes conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamine D–> 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
cause Ca abosrpiton in gut
Causes Ca++ bone Reabsorption
What are the mechanisms by which Ca+ is reaborbed?
- Energy-dependent, cell-mediated process regulated by 1,25(OH)2D
- Passive diffusional paracellular pathway
Calcium Receptor on Parathyroid Hormone Secreting Cells
see image