Endocrine Abstracts

In order to test posterior pituitary function it is important to assess and replace corticotroph function before assessing posterior pituitary hormone production because ACTH deficiency leads to a reduced GFR and the inability to excrete a water load which may therefore mask diabetes insipidus.With diabetes insipidus the urine output is usually >3 l a day. Other causes of osmotic diuresis need to be excluded.The fluid deprivati...

We present the case of a 54-year-old female who presented with a subarachnoid haemorrhage secondary to a left posterior communicating artery aneurysm in 2002 whilst in South Africa. The aneurysm was clipped in early 2003. Post operatively, she developed polyuria and polydypsia attributed to diabetes insipidus and was started on desmopressin nasal spray. Her background medical history includes hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and hypothyroidism and her medication was perindopril, ...

We present the case of an 18-year-old undergraduate student who originally presented to his GP in July 2005 with weight loss and lethargy. He was given a tentative diagnosis of ‘honeymoon’ phase Diabetes Mellitus Type 1. However, further tests ruled out Diabetes. At the end of 2005, he was referred to our Diabetologists with further concerns about weight loss, and a reported brief episode of loss of consciousness while vigorously cycling. When seen by the Diabetes co...