Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Maternal hypo- and hyperthyroidism during pregnancy have been associated with high and low birth weights, which predispose for various diseases later in life, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, the effects of variation in maternal thyroid hormone levels within the normal range on fetal growth and birth weight are largely unknown.Methods: First trimester serum TSH, FT4 and TPO-antibody (TPOab) levels were determi...

Introduction: Pregnancy is a stress test on maternal thyroid and pregnant women may be more susceptible to thyroid dysfunction. Consequences of this may be harmful for the mother and fetus. Smoking has been associated with alterations in thyroid hormone concentrations, but little knowledge exists on this association in pregnant women.Subjects and methods: The study population is large, prospective population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (n...

Introduction: Foetus is dependent on maternal thyroid hormone production during the first trimester. Thus, maternal thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies may affect thyroid function of the offspring.Subjects and methods: We studied a subcohort (n=2000 mother–child-pairs) from a prospective population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (singleton births, total n=9247) covering data throughout pregnancy, childhood and adolesce...

Introduction: Alternative to transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) may be required in Cushing’s disease (CD), as first or second line treatment. 1,ortho-1,para′-dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (o,p′DDD) has a potent anticortisolic action. Its place in CD treatment is not well defined. The aim of this study was to further evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of o,p′DDD in CD.Patients and m...

Adrenal crisis (AC) is a life threatening condition in chronic adrenal insufficiency (AI). Furthermore, recent data demonstrate increased mortality in this patient group.Incidence and causes of adrenal crisis as well as general morbidity and hospitalization was assessed in 472 patients in a prospective trial. Patients were contacted via mail every 6 months and in case of AC additionally by phone to evaluate the exact circumstances of AC. Criteria for AC ...

Context: Previous studies have suggested that infections are an important cause of death in patients with Addison’s disease, but epidemiological studies on the frequency of infections in this population are scarce.Design and setting: We conducted a cohort study, using data from the Dutch PHARMO record linkage system, linking patients’ demographics and medical histories to the use of prescription drugs, diagnostic and therapeutic data from hospi...