what medication is to be prescribed prior to an adrenalectomy to stabilise BP and K+ levels?
spironolactone - it is a potassium sparing diuretic so will retain the K+ ions in body
diagnosis from raised renin and raised aldosterone?
secondary hyperaldosteronism - renin secreting tumour is present
presentations of Cushing’s syndrome?
abdominal striae, moon face, buffalo hump
and weight loss in extremities
presentations of Addison’s disease?
hyperpigmentation, central weight loss, hypotension
Loss of which feedback system results in an increase of cortisol in the body?
Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis
what test determines cranial or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
water deprivation test with desmopressin
what is the diagnostic criteria for DM?
hyperkalaemia ECG?
what is carcinoid syndrome?
a paraneoplastic syndrome where a rare cancerous tumour (carcinoid tumour) secretes 5-HT
- classical triad of cardiac involvement, diarrhoea and flushing
how can Crohn’s disease lead to secondary adrenal insufficiency?
which cancers can cause SIADH?
ACTH secreting; small cell carcinoma, prostate, pancreatic, thymus cancer and lymphomas
list some symptoms of hyperkalaemia
list 6 complications of acromegaly
first line investigation for acromegaly?
serum IGF-1, would be raised (IGF-1 increases with GH secretion)
first line treatment for acromegaly?
transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma
name 3 classes of drugs used to treat acromegaly and an example of each
give 4 differential diagnoses of polyuria and polydipsia
DM, DI, SIADH, primary polydipsia
what is the main cause of primary hyperparathyroidism?
solitary adenoma (80% cases)
list the signs and symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism
definitive treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism?
total parathyroidectomy
first line investigation for Cushing’s disease?
overnight dexamethasone suppression test
most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome?
exogenous, e.g. excess corticosteroid use
main feature of a U&E for hyperaldosteronism?
hyperkalaemia
first line investigation of hyperaldosteronism?
aldosterone renin ratio