Exam 3 - Endocrine Flashcards
(81 cards)
What is Addison’s disease?
Adrenocortical insufficiency caused by autoimmune or idiopathic atrophy, inadequate ACTH from the pituitary, or therapeutic use of steroids.
What are the manifestations of Addison’s disease?
Muscle weakness, anorexia, dark pigmentation, hypotension, hypoglycemia, low sodium levels, high potassium levels. Can result in Addisonian crisis.
What is an Addisonian crisis?
Circulatory shock characterized by pallor, apprehension, weak & rapid pulse, rapid respirations, low blood pressure, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
What can precipitate an Addisonian crisis?
Overexertion, exposure to cold, acute infection, decrease in salt intake.
What are the assessment and diagnostic findings for Addison’s disease?
Early morning serum cortisol and plasma ACTH tests distinguish between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Elevated ACTH and below normal cortisol levels indicate primary adrenal insufficiency.
What is the management for Addison’s disease?
Restore circulatory status with fluids and steroids, may need antibiotics, lifelong steroid therapy, mineralocorticoid therapy, and additional salt intake.
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Results from excessive adrenocortical activity, possibly due to corticosteroid use, adrenal cortex hyperplasia, or pituitary tumors.
What are the manifestations of Cushing’s syndrome?
Cataracts, glaucoma, hypertension, heart failure, truncal obesity, moon face, buffalo hump, sodium retention, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and mood alterations.
What are the assessment and diagnostic findings for Cushing’s syndrome?
Overnight dexamethasone suppression test, plasma ACTH measurement, MRI, and CT scans to detect tumors.
What is the medical management for Cushing’s syndrome?
Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy for pituitary source, radiation, adrenalectomy for adrenal hypertrophy, and temporary replacement therapy with hydrocortisone or Florinef.
What are the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome?
Cutaneous flushing, labile blood pressure, diarrhea, bronchospasm, cardiac failure.
What is the treatment for carcinoid syndrome?
Fluid resuscitation, H1 and H2 antagonists, serotonin antagonists, bronchodilators, vasoactive drugs, and octreotide.
What hormones are produced by the thyroid?
T3 and T4
T3 is five times as potent as T4.
What is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones?
Iodine
What mechanism occurs with excess iodine?
The Wolf-Chaikoff mechanism results in adaptive decline in utilization.
What controls the thyroid gland?
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
What are the main functions of the thyroid?
Cellular metabolism, brain development, normal growth, and affecting every organ in the body.
What is calcitonin and when is it secreted?
Calcitonin is secreted in response to high levels of serum calcium and increases deposition in the bone.
What are the key assessments for thyroid diagnostics?
Inspect gland, observe for goiter, check TSH, serum T3 and T4.
What medications can cloud the accuracy of thyroid tests?
Estrogens, Dilantin, Tagamet, Heparin, amiodarone, PTU, steroids & Lithium.
What does a high radioactive iodine uptake indicate?
Hyperthyroidism
What does a low radioactive iodine uptake indicate?
Hypothyroidism
What is the most common cause of hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
What are some other causes of hypothyroidism?
Previously treated for hyperthyroidism, atrophy of gland with aging, medications, radiation, infiltrative diseases, iodine deficiency or excess, hypothalamic or pituitary abnormality.