Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13, is widely used for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Although generally well-tolerated, dupilumab has been linked to rare thyroid-related events. We report a case of Graves' disease (GD) in a 47-year-old man with severe nasal polyposis who developed heat intolerance and weight loss within six to eight weeks of starting dupilumab.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI) is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms. Measuring 8 AM serum cortisol levels is a common screening test, but its accuracy in predicting AI remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive diagnostic value of basal morning cortisol levels in suspected AI cases and compare them with levels in healthy individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a prevalent clinical condition characterized by an inappropriate secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). It is most often caused by one or more parathyroid adenomas, which can, in rare cases, be ectopically located. Ectopic adenomas can pose a diagnostic challenge, lead to treatment delay, and be a common cause of recurrent hypercalcemia after parathyroidectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
October 2024
Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
July 2024
Summary: Riedel's thyroiditis is the rarest form of thyroiditis, occasionally resulting in rapid thyroid enlargement and potential tracheal obstruction. Here, we detail the case of an 81-year-old woman with a medical history including Hodgkin lymphoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and multinodular goiter. She presented to the emergency room with stridor, cervical swelling, and breathing difficulties for over 2 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Graves' disease (GD) is associated with primary hyperthyroidism, leading to weight loss before treatment. During the treatment, weight gain is frequently observed, often surpassing the initial weight loss. This study aimed to analyze weight fluctuations in GD patients, focusing on the subset of overweight and obese (OAO) individuals, considering the significant metabolic implications and heightened cardiovascular risk of these weight changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
January 2023
Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare clinical entity that results from prolonged exposure to supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids. It may result from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent or nondependent stimuli. In very rare cases, ACTH production does not derive from the pituitary gland but is of an ectopic origin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSubsternal goiter represents a common and challenging clinical scenario in medical practice. Symptoms often include dysphagia, dyspnea, and hoarseness, deeming the vascular compressive symptoms an unusual finding. In extraordinarily rare cases, its slow and gradual growth determines the emergence of severe superior vena cava syndrome, with consequent development of upper esophageal downhill varices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParathyroid carcinoma is an extremely rare endocrine neoplasm that accounts for less than 1% of the cases of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Continuous exposure to high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) induces an increase in bone remodeling and patients may present with osteitis fibrosa cystica, which is characterized by subperiosteal resorption of the phalanges, diffuse osteopenia, salt and pepper appearance of the skull, bone cysts, and brown tumors. Brown tumors occur in less than 5% of all patients with any form of hyperparathyroidism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Using data from electronic health registries, this study intended to estimate the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the population aged 65 years and more, against symptomatic infection, COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and deaths, overall and by time since complete vaccination for the period February to September 2021.
Methods: We established a cohort of individuals aged 65 and more years old, resident in Portugal mainland, using the National Health Service User number to link eight electronic health registries. Outcomes included were symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections, COVID-19-related hospitalizations or deaths.
Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
February 2022
Summary: Immunotherapy has become an important pillar for the management of advanced cancer. Immune-related adverse events including endocrinopathies have been well described with programmed cell death 1 inhibitors such as pembrolizumab. While thyroid dysfunction is the most common endocrinopathy associated with pembrolizumab, new-onset autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM) is extremely rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is essential in managing cardiovascular disease risk. Since 1972, the Friedewald formula has been used to estimate LDL concentration, although with some limitations. In 2013, Martin et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuro Surveill
September 2021
Through deterministic data linkage of health registries, mRNA vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths was measured in 1,880,351 older adults. VE against hospitalisations was 94% (95% confidence interval (CI): 88-97) and 82% (95% CI: 72-89) for those 65-79 and ≥ 80 years old, with no evidence of waning 98 days after dose two. VE against mortality was 96% (95% CI: 92-98) and 81% (95% CI: 74-87) in these two age groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is essential in managing cardiovascular disease risk. Since 1972, the Friedewald formula has been used to estimate LDL concentration, although with some limitations. In 2013, Martin et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 71-year-old woman was referred to the endocrinology clinic to investigate postmenopausal hirsutism with 10 years of evolution. She had history of regular menses and menopause with 50 years old. Physical examination showed a male pattern facies, deepening of the voice, androgenic alopecia and hirsutism with a score of 23 according to the modified Ferriman-Gallwey scale.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of having a regular care provider on the control of chronic diseases. Our study intends to clarify the effects of the transition to a new diabetologist on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes patients followed-upin a tertiary care setting.
Material And Methods: Retrospective study performed in an endocrinology outpatient clinic.
Introduction And Aims: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is an important contributor to residual cardiovascular (CV) risk, but it is underdiagnosed and undertreated. This study aimed to assess the opinion of Portuguese experts to generate a consensus concerning the diagnosis and treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia, as well as to contribute toward standardization of clinical practice in this disorder.
Methods: The study consisted in the application of a questionnaire to an expert panel, following a modified Delphi methodology.
Hormones (Athens)
December 2018
Objective: A minority of lesions found in the sellar region are non-adenomatous neoplastic, inflammatory, or cystic masses. Our study aims to describe the prevalence and characteristics of these lesions in a multidisciplinary pituitary outpatient clinic.
Design: We conducted an observational study which included 36 patients (15.
Even with the improvement in lifestyle interventions, a better control of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and improvements in CV outcomes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) still persists as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal and Europe. Atherogenic dyslipidaemias, namely hypercholesterolaemia, have a crucial and causal role in the development of atherosclerotic CVD. The clinical approach of a patient with dyslipidaemia involves a watchful diagnosis, sustained in lipid and lipoprotein laboratory procedures, which must be harmonized and standardized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Port Cardiol (Engl Ed)
April 2018
Even with improvements in lifestyle interventions, better control of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, and improvements in CV outcomes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal and Europe. Atherogenic dyslipidemias, particularly hypercholesterolemia, have a crucial causal role in the development of atherosclerotic CVD. The clinical approach to a patient with dyslipidemia requires an accurate diagnosis, based on harmonized and standardized lipid and lipoprotein laboratory assessments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Med Port
October 2017
Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common disease, affecting up to 13.1% of the Portuguese population. In addition to the known micro and macrovascular complications, drug side effects constitute a major concern, leading to changes in the treatment guidelines, which favor safety over efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
May 2017
Unlabelled: Central diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare clinical entity characterized by low circulating levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) presenting with polyuria and volume depletion. Pituitary surgery is the most common cause of central DI in adults. Pituitary and hypothalamic disease, particularly invasive neoplasms, rarely cause DI, being idiopathic cases responsible for the majority of non-surgical cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF