Endocrine

Question 1

A 7 year old male dog was subjected to bilateral adrenalectomy. This dog will require hormone replacement to avoid what condition?

Answer 1

Addison’s disease

Question 2

True or False: Plasma cortisol levels accurately affect the amount of glucocorticoid activity being exerted

Answer 2

False - effects of glucocorticoids are mainly intracellular and metabolic effects last longer than the half-life.

Question 3

True or False: Systemic glucocorticoids are extremely useful for treating skin diseases

Answer 3

False - topical applications may be safer

Question 4

True or False: glucocorticoids are often used against autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity and lymphocyte mediated reactions

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What effects are associated with excess mineralocorticoids?

Answer 5

Hypertensive effects, muscle weakness and paralysis, hypokalemia, hypernatremia and water retention, hypocalcaemia

Question 6

Mono- and di-iodotyrosine are coupled to form what end products?

Answer 6

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) stored as thyroglobulins in the thyroid

Question 7

Thiamazole is an antithyroid drug, what is its mechanism of action?

Answer 7

Inhibits oxidation of iodine and inhibits coupling reactions that form T3 and T4

Question 8

A recombinant hormone that is available for the detection of metastatic differentiated thyroid carconimas

Answer 8

Thyroid stimulating hormone

Question 9

What are some of the features you are likely to see in a patient with hypothyroidism?

Answer 9

reduced basal metabolic rate, lethary and muscle weakness, bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation, increased serum cholesterol

Question 10

Used for thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Has an onset of action in several days, reaching a peak in 10-14 days. Effects may last up to 3 weeks.

Answer 10

synthetic levothyroxine (T4)

Question 11

Which thyroid hormone replacement is the most potent and cardiotoxic and what is more commonly used as the drug of choice?

Answer 11

Liothyronine (T3) is the most potent. Levothyroxine (T4) is the drug of choice.

Question 12

Where does synthesis of insulin occur?

Answer 12

The beta-cells of the Islet of Langerhans in the pancreas

Question 13

Where is insulin metabolised?

Answer 13

The liver

Question 14

What is the primary metabolic problem seen in patients with insulin deficiency?

Answer 14

Primarily see hyperglycaemia

Question 15

Insulin preparation - soluble at normal body pH, short acting.

Answer 15

Crystalline zinc insulin (insulin lispro)

Question 16

Long acting insulin preparation. Poor solubility absorption from tissue. Maintains blood glucose for a long time.

Answer 16

Insulin zinc suspension (glargine)

Question 17

What is the most common side effect of insulin administration?

Answer 17

Hypoglycaemia - especially if overdose

Question 18

True or False: The brain is extremely sensitive to hypoglycaemia. It is important therefore, to administer glucose in cases of ‘insulin shock’

Answer 18

True

Question 19

PTH serves an important physiological function of regulating blood calcium levels by stimulating bone resorption and increasing renal and gastrointestinal reabsorption. What drugs would you prescribe for hyperparathyroid induced hypercalcaemia in a dog?

Answer 19

Bisphosphate inhibitors of bone resorption (pamidronate and alendronate)

Question 20

Does 25mg Prednisolone or 25mg Hydrocortisone hhave greater anti-inflammatory potency?

Answer 20

Prednisolone