Endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery: efficacy and response in pituitary adenoma

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to access the efficacy and response of the endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery in pituitary adenomas

Methods: It was descriptive case study, conducted at Neurosurgery Department in collaboration with the Endocrine Unit [Medical Unit-II] Of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi from January 2015 to July 2017. Patients with sellar, supra sellar and para sellar tumors were enrolled in the study. Patients with prolactinoma and recurrent pituitary tumors were excluded. Data was analyzed using SPPS 17

Results: Sixty three patients were included in the study with mean age of 42+/-8.34 years. There were 40[63.5%] male patients and 23[36.5%] female patients with pituitary adenoma. Headache and visual impairment were the main presentation 55[87.3%] and 56 [88.8%] respectively. Out of all these patients the pituitary adenomas, 51[81%] patients had non secretory and 12 [19%] patients had secretory tumor. Out of these pituitary adenomas 53[84.1%] were macroadenomas and 10[15.9%] were microadenoma. Post operatively marked improvement in the headache was in all 100% patients and vision improved in 54 [96.4%]. The most common post operative complication was cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leak in 10 [15.9%] with 44 [69.8%] having no post complications at all. Mortality was reported to be just 1.6% i-e one patient

Conclusion: The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenoma is the safest procedure with marked improvement in complications and reduction in patient's hospital stay

Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Frequency, clinical presentations and treatment indications

Objective: To determine the frequency, modes of clinical presentation and indications for replacement therapy in a cohort of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism [SCH]

Methods: This study was conducted at the Endocrine and Diabetes Unit of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre from September 2007 - October 2015. This was a retrospective chart analysis of prospectively collected data in which the medical records of 4448 patients who had presented to the Endocrine Clinic from 2007 to 2015 were reviewed. A total of 2760 [62.05%] patients were diagnosed with thyroid disorders, whereas 260 [9.42%] patients had SCH. The SCH patients were between the age of 12 to 70 years; TSH was >4mlU/l with normal levels of FT3 and FT4. Patients were enrolled using a predesigned structured proforma. Those having chronic systemic diseases were excluded from this study. SPSS 13 was used to evaluate the data

Results: Female patients comprised 93.8% [244 patients] of those with SCH, whereas only 6.2% [16 patients] were male. Common presenting symptoms were, lethargy in 146 patients [56.2%]; increase in weight in 102 patients [39.2%] and menstrual irregularities in 90 patients [34.6%]

TSH level of < 10mlU/l [4-10] was seen in 177 patients [68.1%] and 83 patients [31.9%] had TSH > 10mU/l. Thyroxine was given to 183 [70.4%] of these patients. Common treatment indications were TSH of > 10, which was seen in 83 patients [31.9%], subfertility in 32 patients [12.3%], troublesome symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism in 31 patients [11.9%] and high titers of antibodies in 23 patients [8.8%]

Conclusion: SCH is frequently seen in our population, with most patients complaining of lethargy. The most common treatment indications were a TSH > 10mlU/l, whereas troublesome symptoms of hypothyroidism and subfertility were the common treatment indications in patients who had a TSH of < 10mlU/l

Ankylosing spondylitis: a rheumatology clinic experience

Objective: To determine the frequency, demographics, laboratory and radiological features in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients with a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS], based on Modified New York criteria. The study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], from February 2004 to February 2014. Detailed history, examination and laboratory investigations were recorded in a pre-designed structured proforma. The frequency, demographic characteristics, extra-articular features and associated comorbidities were studied

Results: A total of 603 patients were registered in our Rheumatology Clinic during this period, with a definitive diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatological disorders. Out of these, Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] was diagnosed in 32 [5.3%] patients. 24 were male and 8 patients were female. The commonest affected age group was between 21-40 years. Majority of the patients belonged to Pathan ethnicity

Conclusion: The demographic features of AS are same as reported in earlier studies from other parts of the world. The predominance of AS in specific ethnic groups is a fact that needs to be studied. Larger studies are required for clarifying the triggers of this disease. It often leads to severe disability, hence an early diagnosis and prompt treatment is required for better disease control and quality of life

Clinical spectrum of disorders of sexual differentiation

Objective: To describe the mode of presentation and causes of the disorders of sexual differentiation in patients presenting in the Endocrine Clinic. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The Endocrine and Diabetes Unit of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi, from July 2012 to July 2014

Methodology: Patients with phenotypic, psychosocial gender confusion or absence of gender appropriate secondary sexual maturation were enrolled in the study. Patients having chronic systemic disease, as cause of delayed puberty, were excluded from the study. SPSS 13 was used to evaluate the data

Results: A total of 48 patients registered in the study with mean age of 19.9 +/- 8 years. Female gender was assigned to 28 [58.3%] of which 8 [28.57%] had genital ambiguity. Male gender was assigned to 20 [41.66%] patients at the time of birth and 7 [35%] of them had ambiguous genitalia. Karyotyping could be done in 36 [75%] patients of which 17 [47.2%] were females and 19 [52.7%] were males. Karyotypic gender of the 19 [48.57%] male patients was 46 XX, 46 XY and 47 XXY; in 4 [21.05%], 5 [26.3%] and 10 [52.6%] patients, respectively with 9 Klinfelter syndrome. Karyotypic gender of 17 [47.42%] female patients were 46 XX, 46 XY and 45 X0; in 5 [29.4%], 3 [17.64%] and 9 [52.9%] patients, respectively

Conclusion: Disorder of sexual development constitutes a small but difficult area of endocrinology with disastrous consequences, especially if assigned wrong sex at birth. Mode of presentation of these cases was diverse ranging from delayed puberty, to gender confusion, to pregnancy in a male. Eventually in an adult patient assignment or reassignment of gender identity was primarily the patient's prerogative

Frequency of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with metabolic syndrome

Obesity and metabolic syndrome is an epidemic seen in the developed, as well as developing countries. Early recognition of this disorder may prevent major non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are the hepatic manifestations of metabolic syndrome. Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in Endocrine Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from June 2008 to September 2010. This study was conducted in patients suspected to have metabolic syndrome, as defined by International Diabetes Federation. Patients fitting the clinical consensus definition, having either palpable liver or ultrasound evidence of fatty infiltration were enrolled. Detailed history, physical examination, anthropometrics and biochemical measurements were recorded. Liver biopsies were performed where possible and were assessed according to Brunt et al's classification. A total of 101 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Liver biopsy was done in 31 patients. On biopsy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was confirmed in 28 [90%], non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 18 [58%] and fibrosis in 8 [25%] patients. Of the biopsied cases, fatty infiltration on ultrasound was seen in 14 [87.5%] cases. Alanine aminotransferase was higher in patients having fibrosis. There was a direct correlation of histopathological changes with rising waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and alanine aminotransferase. There was high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease / non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with metabolic syndrome and liver biopsy confirmed this in 90.3% patients who consented to this procedure

Virilization with adrenal myelolipoma, adrenal hyperplasia, and fibroadenoma of breast

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare, benign and usually hormonally inactive tumour. We report a case of a young female who presented with hormonally active tumour causing virilization and associated type-2 Diabetes mellitus. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was done after CT finding of a large left adrenal mass that was producing large amounts of androgens. Adrenal myelolipoma with cortical hyperplasia was diagnosed on histopathological examination. Her diabetes progressively regressed after the removal of tumour and glucose tolerance remained normal up to 1 year of follow-up after surgery and there was no recurrence of tumour. She also had a lump in her breast which proved to be a fibroadenoma. We report this case due to its rarity, multiplicity of tumours and adrenal cortical hyperplasia-presenting as an unusual cause of severe virilization