Gen Med Flashcards
(48 cards)
What are the side effects of carbimazole?
Nausea Liver dysfunction Transient leucopenia Granulocytosis - loss of white cells and thus fever and infections (sore throat) Alopecia Maculopapular rash Arthralgia
What is the difference between alpha and beta haemolytic streptococcus?
Alpha - partial haemolysis:
- include streptococcus pneumonia and viridans
Beta - complete haemolysis
- include streptococcus pyogenes and enterococcus
What is erysipelas ?
Acute infection of upper dermis usually accompanied by skin rash
Caused by streptococcus pyogenes
What are the different causes of syndrome of inappropriate ADH release?
Malignant - mainly small cell carcinoma of lung
Neurological: stroke, subarachnoid/subdural haemorrhage, meningitis
Infections : TB
Drugs: SSRIs, carbamazepine , sulphonylureases
Describe the structure of the adrenals and relate this to the function
Adrenal cortex - divided into 3:
- zona glomerulosa - mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
- zona fasciculata - glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- zona reticularis - glucocorticoids and androgens (DHEA)
Adrenal medulla- neurosecretory cells - adrenaline and noradrenaline
List the main symptoms of Cushing syndrome
Glucose metabolism impaired- hyperglycaemia and diabetes
Fat metabolism - redistributed to face and abdomen
Protein metabolism - break down of muscle and protein in skin leads to weakness and easy bruising
Immunity inhibited- infections and slow healing
Endocrine- suppression of growth in children
Neurological - psychosis, depression, insomnia, confusion
Water metabolism - has weak mineralocorticoid action so leads to hypertension and heart failure
Calcium - reduced gut absorption, increased kidney excretion, increased bone breakdown- osteoporosis
List the causes of Cushing’s syndrome
Exogenous use of steroids - most common
Cushings disease - pituitary adenoma
Ectopic ACTH secretion - small cell carcinoma of lung (but also pancreas, thymus, ovary and carcinoid tumours)
List the clinical features of cushings disease that differ from Cushing’s syndrome
Pigmentation of the skin
Visual field changes
Headaches
How can secondary adrenal insufficiency be distinguished from primary based on symptoms?
Secondary will be associated with headaches, visual field changes and possible other endocrine abnormalities
There will be absence of skin pigmentation
No symptoms from mineralocorticoid deficiency
How can we treat conns syndrome
Surgery is the treatment of choice - remove the adenoma.
Spironolactone is needed until this is available
Spironolactone is the treatment option for those who can have surgery
What is the action of spironolactone and what’s are it’s side effects?
Action:
- aldosterone receptor antagonist works mainly on distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct
- takes a few days to work because acts on gene expression. Reduces expression of ROMK, Na/K ATPase, Enac and Na/H exchanger
Side effects- gynacomastia , menstrual irregularity, impotence and GI effects
What is the treatment for adrenal adenomas causing Cushing’s syndrome?
What may be required after surgery
Unilateral adrenectomy
After surgery hydrocortisone is needed due to long term suppression of ACTH
What is lupus?
Autoimmune disorder in which there are autoantibodies against a variety of autoantigens (ANA)
Affects multiple organs and varies in severity
Patient experiences flare ups (remitting and relapsing)
How is sjrogens syndrome diagnosed?
Schrimers test - less than 5mm in 5mins suggestive of reduced lacrimal gland secretions
Test for autoantibodies ro and la
What is sjrogens
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition associated with lymphocyte infiltration and fibrosis of exocrine glands (particularly salivary and lacrimal)
May be primary (due to Ro/La autoantibodies) or secondary (SLE, RA, Systemic sclerosis )
What are the symptoms of sjrogens?
Dry mouth
- dysphagia
- dry cough
- parotid swelling
Dry eyes
- ulceration
Other systemic features:
- poly arthritis
- raynauds
- vasculitis
- myosotis, peripheral neuropathy
- lung, liver and kidney problems
What’s the treatment for sjogrens ?
Artificial tears / saliva
Lozenges
Anti- inflammatories
What may be the causes of reduced lacrimal gland function be?
Age
Medication
Sjrogens
What are the 11 criteria for SLE and how many are needed for a diagnosis?
Malar rash
Discoid rash - keratin scales
Photosensitivity
Oral ulcers
Arthritis involving 2 or more joints
Serositis - e.g. Pleuritis ( pleuritic pain) or pericarditis
Renal problems
CNS disorder - seizures, psychosis
Haematological- haemolytic anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
Immunological disorder - positive anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, or antiphospholipid
ANA positive
4 or more are required for diagnosis
What is the normal action of PTH?
Increases osteoclasts activity so ca and phosphate released from bones
Increases kidney ca reabsorption and phosphate excretion
Increase formation of active vit D
Overall increased calcium and reduced phosphate
What is the difference between primary, secondary, tertiary and malignant hyperparathyroidism?
Primary - caused by parathyroid gland e.g. Adenoma or parathyroid cancer (rare)
Secondary - low calcium causes increased PTH e.g. Low vitamin D intake or chronic renal failure
Tertiary - occurs after prolonged secondary parathyroidism. The PTH continues to rise inappropriately such that calcium also rises
Malignant parathyroidism : PTHrP produced by squamous cell carcinoma of lung, breast cancers and renal cell carcinoma
What is the management for polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Weight loss and metformin - increase insulin sensitivity and so increase SHBG, reduce serum androgens and LH
Oral contraceptive pill - increases SHBG and progestin inhibits LH secretion
GnRH analogs to reduce amount of LH secreted by blocking access by GNRH - rarely used
Androgen receptor blockers - spironolactone
What are the features of turners syndrome?
Short stature Webbed neck Gonadal dysgenesis Low set ears Wide spaced nipples High arched palate
What is MEN1?
Multiple endocrine neoplasia characterised by parathyroid tumour, pituitary adenoma and pancreatic tumours. Two or more are needed for diagnosis or just one if there is a family history
It is an autosomal dominant genetic condition caused by mutation in the MEN1 tumour suppressor gene (TSG)
