Endo Flashcards
(248 cards)
Mx of Addison’s Disease?
Hydrocortisone + fludrocortisone
Management of intercurrent illness in addisons:
in simple terms the glucocorticoid dose should be doubled
common precipitating factors of DKA?
infection, missed insulin doses and myocardial infarction
features of DKA?
abdominal pain
polyuria, polydipsia, dehydration
Kussmaul respiration (deep hyperventilation)
Acetone-smelling breath (‘pear drops’ smell)
diagnostic criteria of DKA?
glucose > 11 mmol/l or known diabetes mellitus
pH < 7.3
bicarbonate < 15 mmol/l
ketones > 3 mmol/l or urine ketones ++ on dipstick
mx of DKA?
fluid replacement: most patients with DKA are deplete around 5-8 litres. Isotonic saline is used initially.
insulin: an intravenous infusion should be started at 0.1 unit/kg/hour. Once blood glucose is < 14 mmol/l an infusion of 5% dextrose should be started
correction of hypokalaemia (add KCl if K+<5.5)
MOA Sulfonylureas?
Sulfonylureas are oral hypoglycaemic drugs used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They work by increasing pancreatic insulin secretion and hence are only effective if functional B-cells are present. On a molecular level they bind to an ATP-dependent K+(KATP) channel on the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells.
Common adverse effects
hypoglycaemic episodes (more common with long-acting preparations such as chlorpropamide)
weight gain
Rarer adverse effects
syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion
bone marrow suppression
liver damage (cholestatic)
peripheral neuropathy
diagnosis of phaeochromo?
Urine analysis of vanillymandelic acid (VMA) is often used (false positives may occur e.g. in patients eating vanilla ice cream!)
Blood testing for plasma metanephrine levels.
CT and MRI scanning are both used to localise the lesion.
mx of phaeo?
- alpha blockade
- +? beta blockade
Once medically optimised the phaeochromocytoma should be removed.
factors suggesting benign adrenal disease on CT?
Size less than 3cm
Homogeneous texture
Lipid rich tissue
Thin wall to lesion

Thyroid acropachy
seen in Graves disease
due to autoimmune reactions of the thyroid antibodies causing soft tissue swelling under the nail bed.
causes of primary hyperPTH?
80%: solitary adenoma
15%: hyperplasia
4%: multiple adenoma
1%: carcinoma
features of primary HyperPTH?
bones, stones, abdominal groans and psychic moans’
polydipsia, polyuria
peptic ulceration/constipation/pancreatitis
bone pain/fracture
renal stones
depression
hypertension
ix of primary hyperPTH?
raised calcium, low phosphate
PTH may be raised or normal (inappropriately normal)
technetium-MIBI subtraction scan
pepperpot skull is a characteristic X-ray finding of hyperparathyroidism
tx of hyperPTH in pts not fit for surgery?
calcimimetic agents such as cinacalcet are sometimes used in patients who are unsuitable for surgery
Impt adverse effects of Carbimazole?
carbimazole used in mx of hyperthyroidism
agranulocytosis:
If the patient develops any symptoms of an infection, particularly sore throat or fever then must seek urgent medical review and a FBC must be performed to check the neutrophil count.
what can be used as ‘rescue therapy’ for exacerbations of neuropathic pain
tramadol
mx of addisonian crisis?
hydrocortisone 100 mg im or iv
1 litre normal saline infused over 30-60 mins or with dextrose if hypoglycaemic
continue hydrocortisone 6 hourly until the patient is stable. No fludrocortisone is required because high cortisol exerts weak mineralocorticoid action
oral replacement may begin after 24 hours and be reduced to maintenance over 3-4 days
meningococcal septicaemia -> hypoadrenalism
Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome
- adrenal haemorrhage
Pt with hypothyroidism being treated.
What is the single most important blood test to assess her response to treatment?
TSH
As the majority of unaffected people have a TSH value 0.5-2.5 mU/l it is now thought preferable to aim for a TSH in this range
diagnosis of T2DM?
If the patient is symptomatic:
- fasting glucose greater than or equal to 7.0 mmol/l
- random glucose greater than or equal to 11.1 mmol/l (or after 75g oral glucose tolerance test)
If the patient is asymptomatic the above criteria apply but must be demonstrated on two separate occasions.
definition of pre diabetes?
HbA1c 42-47
or fasting glucose 6.1-6.9
when is HbA1c not reliable?
misleading HbA1c results can be caused by increased red cell turnover (see below)
Conditions where HbA1c may not be used for diagnosis:
haemoglobinopathies
haemolytic anaemia
untreated iron deficiency anaemia
suspected gestational diabetes
children
HIV
chronic kidney disease
people taking medication that may cause hyperglycaemia (for example corticosteroids)
impaired fasting glucose?
A fasting glucose greater than or equal to 6.1 but less than 7.0 mmol/l implies impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
impaired glucose tolerance?
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is defined as fasting plasma glucose less than 7.0 mmol/l and OGTT 2-hour value greater than or equal to 7.8 mmol/l but less than 11.1 mmol/l






