Pathologies

Question 1

What is acromegaly

Answer 1

Excess growth hormone post-puberty (after growth plate closes)
Bone density increases
Usually due to pituitary gland tumours/trauma

Question 2

What is gigantism

Answer 2

Excess growth hormone while bones are still developing in childhood/adolescence which results in very tall growth
Usually due to pituitary gland tumour/trauma

Question 3

What is hyperprolactinaemia

Answer 3

Excessive prolactin production, usually due to a pituitary gland tumour/trauma
Also a result of some pharmacological drugs
Experience galactorrhea & amenorrhoea due to prolactin inhibiting GnRH

Question 4

What is galactorrhea

Answer 4

Flow of milk from breasts that isnt associated with birth, can affect male or female

Question 5

What is amenorrhoea

Answer 5

Absence of menses

Question 6

What is diabetes insipidus

Answer 6

Deficiency of ADH production causing the kidneys to over excrete water
Can be due to cranial trauma to pituitary gland or some form of renal failure
Hypercalcaemia & hypokalaemia (low potassium) also damage kidneys

Question 7

What is polydipsia

Answer 7

Extreme thirst, symptom of diabetes insipidus

Question 8

What is polyuria

Answer 8

Excess urination, symptom of diabetes insipidus

Question 9

Why does adrenal failure lead to skin hyperpigmentation

Answer 9

Leads to lack of adrenal hormone production & a failure of the normal negative feedback mechanism
The hypothalamus produces an excess of CRH which causes the pituitary to erroneously produce MSH which causes skin colour to darken

Question 10

What is the addisonian crisis

Answer 10

A complication of Addison’s disease when the individual has no capacity to cope with stress (e.g psychological, infection etc)

Question 11

What is cushing’s syndrome

Answer 11

A cortisol excess from any cause which could be from glucocorticoid drug use, corticosteroid therapy, adrenal, tumour

Question 12

What is cushing’s disease

Answer 12

Excess production of ACTH causing excess glucocorticoid production from the adrenal cortex, usually due to a pituitary tumour

Question 13

What is addison’s disease

Answer 13

Adrenal insufficiency
Hypo-functioning of the adrenal cortex causing a deficiency in mineralocorticoids & glucocorticoids

85% due to atrophy of the adrenal gland (most commonly autoimmune) otherwise secondary to a disease or abrupt cessation of long-term steroid use

Question 14

What can cause secondary diabetes

Answer 14

Fairly uncommon, 1-2% of cases

Can be due to certain medications (cortisone) or underlying health conditions such as pancreatitits

Question 15

What is gestational diabetes

Answer 15

Forms during pregnancy as a result of placental hormones (ie human placental lactogen) intereferes with blood glucose levels
Usually disappears after delivery, but there is an elevated risk of mother & child developing type 2 diabetes in later years

Question 16

What is ketoacidosis

Answer 16

Signs = fruity smelling breath, exhaled acetone due to presence of fats forming into ketones

Low glucose levels, mitochondria can use ketones to mak energy which are derived from breakdown of fatty acids
They are acidic and can be toxic if high levels accumulate, which may result in coma/death
Can be tested using a urine dipstick

Question 17

What is type 1 diabetes

Answer 17

An autoimmune condition causing destruction of pancreatic Beta cells results in hyperglycaemia due to impaired insulin production

Question 18

What is type 2 diabetes

Answer 18

Where body’s cells develop insulin resistance & so glucose cannot enter cells efficiently

Hyperglycaemia develops when the pancreas can no longer secrete insulin to compensate for the resistance
Strong hereditary link in asian, african, hispanic, indian