Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Children on long-term steroids are at risk of Addisonian crisis during acute illnesses unless their dose is increased. To prevent this parents receive teaching on correct management if their child becomes unwell. We looked at the effectiveness of this education by assessing parental knowledge.Methodology: Parents of all children taking long-term steroids under paediatric endocrinology at our hospital between November 2015 and May 2016 were ...

Introduction: Children on long-term steroid treatment are at risk of developing an Addisonian crisis during an acute illness unless their steroid dose is increased appropriately. It is essential for all staff involved in the care and management of such patients (Paediatric Nurses, Paediatric Doctors, ED Doctors) to be familiar with the relevant management guidelines.Methodology: Between November 2015 and May 2016 Paediatric and ED nursing and medical sta...

Objectives: Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency is diagnosed using an ACTH stimulation test. There is no clear evidence that either a Low dose Synacthen Test (LDST) or a Short Synacthen Test is more superior in diagnosis. In our service, we routinely use LDST to investigate adrenal function. There is a lack of standardisation regarding timing, dose and frequency whilst undertaking a LDST leading to diagnostic inconsistencies. We routinely measure baseline cortisol levels, then at ...

Introduction: Adrenal insufficiency is a rare cause of life-threatening hyponatraemic collapse in the neonatal period. The initial investigations taken at the time of presentation, and prior to the institution of hydrocortisone, are a key step in the diagnostic pathway.Aim: We present a case series where the initial biochemical test results could have led to a delay in diagnosis or early discontinuation of hydrocortisone.Ca...

Introduction: Assessing cortisol status is a key endocrine investigation, to identify those who need glucocorticoid replacement or emergency sickness cover either due to primary or secondary cortisol deficiency or after long-term/high dose steroid treatment causing Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPAA) suppression. A short synacthen test (SST) measuring cortisol levels after administration of Synthetic ACTH at time zero, 30 and 60 minutes is commonly used. A normal respon...