The Endocrine System Flashcards
Examples of hyperthyroidism
Graves disease, overtreatment of thyroxine, infection (Dr Quervain’s thyroiditis), toxic multi nodular goitre, toxic adenoma
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Intolerance to heat, fine/straight hair, bulging eyes, facial flushing, enlarged thyroid, tachycardia, increased BP, great enlargement, weight loss, muscle wasting, localised oedema, menstrual changes, diarrhoea, tremors.
How do you manage hyperthyroidism?
Testing - clinical and thyroid function tests.
Treat the cause
Carbimazole/propylthiouracil, radioiodine, thyroidectomy
Causes of hypothyroidism
Iodine deficiency (lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone) Hashimoto's thryroiditis (autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland) iatrogenic: surgery, radioiodine
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Intolerance to cold, receding hairline, facial and eyelid oedema, dull-blank expression, extreme fatigue, thick tongue (slow speech), anorexia, brittle hair/nails, menstrual disturbances, constipation, muscle aches/weakness, dry skin, lethargy, apathy, hair loss
Treatment for hypothyroidism?
Thyoxine
What causes Cushing’s Disease?
ACTH releasing tumour (pituitary/lung)
Excess release of glucocorticoids (cortisol)
What is Addison’s Disease?
Adrenal insufficiency.
Autoimmune disease, infection, neoplasm (abnormal growth)
What are the signs/symptoms of Addison’s disease?
GI Symptoms (anorexia, n+v, diarrhoea), weight loss, hyperpigmentation, low sodium, high potassium
What is Pheochromocytoma?
Rare tumour of the adrenal gland tissue. It results int he release of too much epinephrine and norepinephrine (hormones that control HR, metabolism, BP)
What are the signs/symptoms of Pheochromocytoma?
Hypertension, sweating, palpitation, nervousness, increased metabolic ratio, rapid HR
What is Hyperpituitarism?
Over-secretion of pituitary hormones.
Most common cause is an adenoma in the anterior lobe (also caused by cancer, hyperplasia)
What is Hypopituitarism?
Deficiency in pituitary hormone production.
Caused by injury, surgery, radiation, inflammation.
Also caused by ischaemic necrosis of the pituitary (Sheehan’s syndrome)
What is Hypoparathyroidism?
Insufficient levels of Parathyroid Hormone produced by parathyroid gland.
Congenital
Heredity (autoimmune)
What are the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism?
Irritability, Tetany (intermittent muscular spasms), seizures
Caused by low calcium levels
