ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Context. Graves' disease is the most prevalent cause of hyperthyroidism worldwide. Adiponectin, the most abundant adipokine, plays a significant role in a cluster of prevalent diseases connected to metabolic disorders. Objective. Although the association between adiponectin and Graves' disease has been studied, the existing data is inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between adiponectin levels and Graves' disease. Methods. We performed a systematic electronic search on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library using predefined keywords. We used the NHLBI quality assessment tools to assess the included studies. Results. There were 11 studies involving 781 subjects included in our qualitative synthesis, while 6 studies were included in our quantitative synthesis. We observed significantly increased adiponectin levels in Graves' disease patients compared to controls (MD 2.983 [95% CI 0.138– 5.828]) and hypothyroidism patients (MD 3.389 [95% CI 1.332–5.446]). Nevertheless, no significant MD was observed when comparing Graves' disease patients with and without Graves' ophthalmopathy (MD -27.124 [95% CI -88.893 – 34.645]). Conclusions. Adiponectin levels were significantly higher in patients with Graves' disease compared to controls and hypothyroidism patients. However, patients with and without Graves' ophthalmopathy did not present a significant mean difference in adiponectin levels.

A 74 year old lady presented with difficulty in breathing and hypoxia. She was initially treated as pulmonary embolism\r\n(PE). However, confirmatory tests did not suggest the diagnosis of PE. Further tests gave the diagnosis of an ovarian carcinoid presenting with shortness of breath and\r\nhypoxia. After an initial treatment with Octreotide, she underwent salpingooophorectomy. She became asymptomatic and made an uneventful recovery. Ovarian carcinoids can\r\nproduce carcinoid syndrome without the presence of hepatic metastases. Here we provide a short review on ovarian carcinoids.

Objectives. The present paper aims to investigate the effects of both progesterone and progestin treatment mainly related to the occurrence of breast cancer in women. Materials and methods. Extensive systematic bibliographic review of Greek and International articles was conducted through the electronic databases Pubmed, Cinahl, Uptodate, and Google Scholar for the identification of articles related to progesterone, progestins and breast cancer treatment. Results. Hormone therapy with the use of estrogen alone presents a small increased risk or does not present at all an increased risk of breast cancer. With ORs in some studies below 1.0 in current users for 3 plus years and safe option until 7 years, while in other studies the risk was increased with the ORs 1.29. However, the use of estrogen in combination with progestogens, depending on the type of progestogens, shows an increased risk of breast cancer, with the ORs to vary between 1.14- 2.38 from 3 to 5 years and is inversely proportional to the time of its use. This risk varies depending on the combination of the preparations. Other factors that are associated with breast cancer risk when receiving hormone therapy are the years that hormone therapy is taken, directly proportional to the risk. At higher risk are older women, women with low body mass index in menopause (BMI <25kg/m2) and women with increased mammographic breast density. Continued use of hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer compared to sequential. The risk became visible sooner to women who used in the past hormone therapy and were using it again. Starting hormone therapy in the immediate postmenopausal period also increased the risk for breast cancer. Hormone therapy was associated with tumors with positive estrogen and progesterone receptors, and also the lobular histological type was associated with its use. Tibolone use was associated with an increased risk.

COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system. What comes after the disease is now a greater concern for the scientific world. It is remarkable for causing endocrine organ involvement, particularly in the adrenal glands. However, its effect on the adrenal gland has not been fully elucidated. A case of primary adrenal insufficiency after COVID-19. A 31-year-old female patient who presented with complaints of weakness, anorexia, nausea, recent onset of vomiting, dizziness, and low blood pressure for two months was admitted to the outpatient Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism. After discharge, the patient had routine follow-ups, and here we present the information on the first and seventh month after discharge. The patient was diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency with cortisol <0.054 μg/dL and adrenocorticotropic hormone >1200 pg/mL in the laboratory. In the non-contrast computed tomography taken in the adrenal protocol, the stem and leaves of both adrenal glands are significantly thinned and appear atrophic, the right adrenal gland is hardly distinguished. Hydrocortisone was started. All complaints were resolved within a week, except hyperpigmentation, which was resolved six months later after treatment. Our study support adrenal gland involvement due to COVID-19, further research is needed to obtain data on damage mechanisms.

Context. Autoimmune thyroid disease is considered a multifactorial disorder in which autoimmunity against thyroid antigens is facilitated by exposure to endogenous and environmental factors. We present here a rare case of identical female twins who developed consecutively Graves’ disease within a few months and had three HLA susceptibility alleles for the development of Graves’ disease. Subjects. A 28-year-old woman was referred to our hospital complaining of thirst, sweating, palpitations, tremor and skin rash. Laboratory data showed hyperthyroidism with antibodies against the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor and ultrasonography of the thyroid revealed enlargement with hypervascularity. Her identical twin was referred to our hospital because of similar symptoms. Result. We diagnosed them with Graves’ disease and both were treated with methimazole. Human leukocyte antigen genotyping showed that both twins possessed the DRB1*04:05, DQB1*04:01:01, DPB1*05:01 haplotype, which confers susceptibility to Graves’ disease. Conclusions. This case supports the hypothesis that interaction of multiple human leukocyte antigen susceptibility alleles as well as genetic background and environmental factors might synergistically contribute the close timing in Graves’ disease onset.

Abstract Introduction. Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder with an exclusively feminine phenotype, is caused by complete or partial X monosomy in some or all cells. Although the condition is usually diagnosed after birth, now, it is possible to detect the syndrome prenatally. Case reports. We present two cases of Turner syndrome diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The condition was suspected because of several ultrasound signs and was confirmed in both cases after an invasive prenatal technique. In one case, the fluorescent in situ hybridization technique was applied. In the other case, the chromosomal anomaly was detected using the G banding technique. Threedimensional ultrasound and HDlive technology were extremely useful in helping the patients to better understand the fetal pathology and accept an invasive procedure as a final step in establishing the diagnosis. Conclusion. These cases demonstrate the importance of using ultrasound as a screening method to detect suspected cases of Turner syndrome, however, the disorder needs to be confirmed with chromosomal analysis after performing an invasive prenatal technique.

Prolactinoma causing obstructive hydrocephalus is quite rare. We present a case of a 28-year-old previously healthy man who presented with sudden onset of dysarthria and expressive aphasia along with intense bifrontal headache and shortterm memory loss. Initial brain CT and brain MRI revealed a large 5.2 x 4.7 x 2.6 cm suprasellar mass, which extended to the third ventricle reaching up to the foramen of Monro and laterally displacing both internal carotid arteries. He was emergently placed an external ventricular drainage to relieve intracranial hypertension which led to immediate reversal of mental status as well as speech ability. His extensive endocrine work-up demonstrated a prolactin level with dilution of 12,650 µg/L (normal=2-18 µg/L) (549,996.7 pmol/L) consistent with the diagnosis of giant macroprolactinoma. Bromocriptine was initiated with successful tumor shrinkage and normalization of prolactin level within 7 months after initial presentation. Our case demonstrates the importance of obtaining a thorough hormonal evaluation of a large sellar lesion causing obstructive hydrocephalus to allow for an accurate diagnosis. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of medical therapy in the treatment of macroprolactinomas, even if very large. Medical treatment with dopamine agonists is still a first-line, effective approach with a favorable outcome in patients with giant macroprolactinomas causing intracranial hypertension and neurological symptoms as was the case in our patient.

Insulinoma is the most common endocrine tumor of the pancreas. The diagnosis suspicion is usually based on clinical symptoms and is confirmed by biochemical tests. Because the majority of insulinomas have a small size, the real problem is the localization of these tumors before surgery. We present the diagnostic and therapy difficulties, the value of available imaging techniques as well as our experience in five consecutive insulinoma patients from our clinic.

Context. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are recent prognostic markers associated with inflammation in many diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), malignancies, myocardial infarction. Objective. In this study, we investigated the relationship between NLR-PLR and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D in patients with high PTH levels. Design. The patients with high PTH levels in Nephrology and Endocrinolgy Outpatient clinics were evaluated retrospectively. Subjects and methods. The medical records of the patients were examined and clinical data, including demographic details, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and follow-up data were obtained. NLR and PLR were calculated. Serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, lipid levels, calcium phosphorus product, PTH and vitamin D values were investigated. The relationship between NLR-PLR and laboratory parameters, GFR (MDRD-GFR), PTH and vitamin D were investigated. Results. 48 male and 253 female patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 57.57±13.28. NLR correlated negatively with albumin, hemoglobin, vitamin D, calcium and cholesterol and it positively correlated with creatinine and PTH. Multiple regression analysis showed that main determinants of NLR were PTH, albumin, LDLcholesterol, hemoglobin and gender. Conclusions. In this study NLR and PLR correlated negatively with hemoglobin and cholesterol. Positive correlation between NLR and creatinine could be explained by increased degrees of inflammation associated with more pronounced degrees of renal dysfunction. The impact of PTH on NLR was independent of GFR. In multiple regression model this suggests that PTH could be a pro-inflammatory parameter independent of the degree of renal dysfunction.

Alteration in nervous system function in patients with thyrotoxicosis is frequent. In rare cases, mental disturbances may be severe: maniac-depressive, schizoid or paranoid reaction. The pathophysiologic basis of these nervous system findings is not well understood. The first patient, being on treatment with benzodiazepine and Risperidone for mood deterioration, was admitted in Thyroid Unit 1 for clinical features suggesting addition, he developed auditory and visual hallucinations, bizarre behavior, disorganized speech, disorientation, poor attention and loss memory for recent events, having a good clinical response after addition of antithyroid drug therapy. The second case developed clinical features suggesting thyrotoxicosis, associated with visual and auditory hallucinations, marked psychomotor agitation and bizarre behavior. After an unsuccessful monotherapy (Risperidone), a good response of clinical features (including psychiatric symptoms) to combined therapy (Methimazole and Risperidone) was recorded. The diagnosis of Graves&#8217; disease was based on clinical and laboratory data (suppressed serum TSH level, elevated serum FT3) and ophthalmological examination or positive anti - TPO antibodies. Both patients were successfully treated with combined therapy - Methimazole and Risperidone. Both case reports demonstrate the importance of performing thyroid function tests in patients with acute psychosis.