Endocrinology Flashcards
(159 cards)
Main causes of hypercalcaemia
- Primary hyperparathyroidism: commonest cause in non-hospitalised patients
- Malignancy: the commonest cause in hospitalised patients. This may be due to number of processes, including; bone metastases, myeloma, PTHrP from squamous cell lung cancer
Other causes of hypercalcaemia
sarcoidosis* vitamin D intoxication acromegaly thyrotoxicosis Milk-alkali syndrome drugs: thiazides, calcium containing antacids dehydration Addison's disease Paget's disease of the bone**
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Type 1
MEN1 gene
Most common presentation = hypercalcaemia
3 P’s
Parathyroid (95%): hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid hyperplasia
Pituitary (70%)
Pancreas (50%): e.g. insulinoma, gastrinoma (leading to recurrent peptic ulceration)
Also: adrenal and thyroid
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Type 2a
RET oncogene
Medullary thyroid cancer (70%)
2 P’s
Parathyroid (60%)
Phaeochromocytoma
Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Type 2b
RET oncogene
Medullary thyroid cancer
1 P
Phaeochromocytoma
Marfanoid body habitus
Neuromas
Hypokalaemia with alkalosis
vomiting
thiazide and loop diuretics
Cushing’s syndrome
Conn’s syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism)
Hypokalaemia with acidosis
diarrhoea
renal tubular acidosis
acetazolamide
partially treated diabetic ketoacidosis
acetazolamide
used to treat and prevent altitude sickness
Mechanism of action of Thiazolidinediones
e.g. pioglitazone, rosiglitazone
They are agonists to the PPAR-gamma receptor and reduce peripheral insulin resistance
The PPAR-gamma receptor is an intracellular nuclear receptor. It’s natural ligands are free fatty acids and it is thought to control adipocyte differentiation and function.
Adverse effects of thiazonlidinediones
weight gain
liver impairment: monitor LFTs
fluid retention - therefore contraindicated in heart failure. The risk of fluid retention is increased if the patient also takes insulin
recent studies have indicated an increased risk of fractures
bladder cancer: recent studies have shown an increased risk of bladder cancer in patients taking pioglitazone (hazard ratio 2.64)
Renal tubular necrosis
Type 1 distal
inability to generate acid urine (secrete H+) in distal tubule
causes hypokalaemia
complications include nephrocalcinosis and renal stones
causes include idiopathic, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Sjogren’s, amphotericin B toxicity, analgesic nephropathy
Renal tubular necrosis
Type 2 proximal
decreased HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubule
causes hypokalaemia
complications include osteomalacia
causes include idiopathic, as part of Fanconi syndrome, Wilson’s disease, cystinosis, outdated tetracyclines, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (acetazolamide, topiramate)
Renal tubular necrosis
Type 3 Mixed
extremely rare
caused by carbonic anhydrase II deficiency
results in hypokalaemia
Renal Tubular necosis
Type 4 Hyperkalaemic
reduction in aldosterone leads in turn to a reduction in proximal tubular ammonium excretion
causes hyperkalaemia
causes include hypoaldosteronism, diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s
most common cause in the developed world
autoimmune disease, associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Addison’s or pernicious anaemia
may cause transient thyrotoxicosis in the acute phase
5-10 times more common in women
Hyperthyroidism
thyroxicosis
most common cause of thyrotoxicosis
as well as typically features of thyrotoxicosis other features may be seen including thyroid eye disease
Sub acute thyroiditis
de Quervain’s
hypothyroidism
associated with a painful goitre and raised ESR
Reidel’s thyroiditis
fibrous tissue replacing the normal thyroid parenchyma
causes a painless goitre
other causes of hypothyroidism
Postpartum thyroiditis
Drugs -lithium, amiodarone
Iodine deficiency
other causes of hyperthyroidism
Toxic multinodular goitre
autonomously functioning thyroid nodules that secrete excess thyroid hormones
Drugs
amiodarone
General features of hypothroidism
Cold intolerance
Weight gain
Lethargy
General features of hyperthyroidism
Weight loss
‘Manic’, restlessness
Palpitations
Heat intolerance
Skin changes in hypothyroidism
Dry (anhydrosis), cold, yellowish skin
Non-pitting oedema (e.g. hands, face)
Dry, coarse scalp hair, loss of lateral aspect of eyebrows
Skin changes in hyperthyroidism
Increased sweating
Pretibial myxoedema: erythematous, oedematous lesions above the lateral malleoli
Thyroid acropachy: clubbing