MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Neuroendocrine surveillance and management of neurosurgical patients

Advances in the management of traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracranial tumours have led to improved survival rates and an increased focus on quality of life of survivors. Endocrine sequelae of the acute brain insult and subsequent neurosurgery, peri-operative fluid administration and/or cranial irradiation are now well described. Unrecognised acute hypopituitarism, particularly ACTH/cortisol deficiency and diabetes insipidus, can be life threatening. Although hypopituitarism may be transient, up to 30% of survivors of TBI have chronic hypopituitarism, which can diminish quality of life and hamper rehabilitation. Patients who survive SAH may also develop hypopituitarism, though it is less common than after TBI. The growth hormone axis is most frequently affected. There is also accumulating evidence that survivors of intracranial malignancy, who have required cranial irradiation, may develop hypopituitarism. The time course of the development of hormone deficits is varied, and predictors of pituitary dysfunction are unreliable. Furthermore, diagnosis of GH and ACTH deficiency require dynamic testing that can be resource intensive. Thus the surveillance and management of neuroendocrine dysfunction in neurosurgical patients poses significant logistic challenges to endocrine services. However, diagnosis and management of pituitary dysfunction can be rewarding. Appropriate hormone replacement can improve quality of life, prevent complications such as muscle atrophy, infection and osteoporosis and improve engagement with physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

The endocrine manifestations of anorexia nervosa: mechanisms and management

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder characterized by altered body image, persistent food restriction and low body weight, and is associated with global endocrine dysregulation in both adolescent girls and women. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis includes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with relative oestrogen and androgen deficiency, growth hormone resistance, hypercortisolaemia, non-thyroidal illness syndrome, hyponatraemia and hypooxytocinaemia. Serum levels of leptin, an anorexigenic adipokine, are suppressed and levels of ghrelin, an orexigenic gut peptide, are elevated in women with anorexia nervosa; however, levels of peptide YY, an anorexigenic gut peptide, are paradoxically elevated. Although most, but not all, of these endocrine disturbances are adaptive to the low energy state of chronic starvation and reverse with treatment of the eating disorder, many contribute to impaired skeletal integrity, as well as neuropsychiatric comorbidities, in individuals with anorexia nervosa. Although 5-15% of patients with anorexia nervosa are men, only limited data exist regarding the endocrine impact of the disease in adolescent boys and men. Further research is needed to understand the endocrine determinants of bone loss and neuropsychiatric comorbidities in anorexia nervosa in both women and men, as well as to formulate optimal treatment strategies.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress and Endocrine Disorders

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the organelle where secretory and membrane proteins are synthesized and folded. Unfolded proteins that are retained within the ER can cause ER stress. Eukaryotic cells have a defense system called the “unfolded protein response” (UPR), which protects cells from ER stress. Cells undergo apoptosis when ER stress exceeds the capacity of the UPR, which has been revealed to cause human diseases. Although neurodegenerative diseases are well-known ER stress-related diseases, it has been discovered that endocrine diseases are also related to ER stress. In this review, we focus on ER stress-related human endocrine disorders. In addition to diabetes mellitus, which is well characterized, several relatively rare genetic disorders such as familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI), Wolfram syndrome, and isolated growth hormone deficiency type II (IGHD2) are discussed in this article.

[Recent developments in internal medicine]

Whilst the practice of hospital based internal medicine is often carried out in tight collaboration with clinical specialities, in particular for deciding on the indication of interventional and diagnostic procedures, it is important to remain objective with respect to the indications and benefits of these acts. This is the case in areas such as cardiovascular medicine and nephrology. Recent studies also have the potential to modify current guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. This article discusses some of these selected subjects.

Endocrine Hypertension: A Practical Approach

Elevated blood pressure resulting from few endocrine disorders (endocrine hypertension) accounts for a high proportion of cases of secondary hypertension. Although some features may be suggestive, many cases of endocrine hypertension remain silent until worked up for the disease. A majority of cases result from primary aldosteronism. Other conditions that can cause endocrine hypertension are: congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Liddle syndrome, pheochromocytomas, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, thyroid diseases, primary hyperparathyroidism and iatrogenic hormone manipulation. Early identification and treatment of the cause of endocrine hypertension may help to reduce morbidity and mortality related to these disorders. This article gives a comprehensive and practical approach to the diagnosis and management of endocrine hypertension.

ASSESSING REFERRALS AND IMPROVING INFORMATION AVAILABILITY FOR CONSULTATIONS IN AN ACADEMIC ENDOCRINOLOGY CLINIC

OBJECTIVE

Outpatient specialty consultations rely on the timeliness and completeness of referral information to facilitate a valuable patient-specialist interaction. This project aimed to increase essential diagnostic information availability at the initial consultation for patients referred for common endocrine conditions frequently lacking such data-diabetes mellitus, thyroid nodule, thyrotoxicosis, and hypercalcemia.

METHODS

At an endocrinology clinic at an academic medical center in rural New England, providers see several thousand new patients annually, the majority of whom are referred by providers external to the clinic's healthcare system. Through consensus, endocrinology clinic providers agreed on the two or three data elements essential for a meaningful initial consultation for each. A quality improvement team employed a planned series of interventions based on previously published methods and an innovative approach: dissemination of a referral guideline, an assessment of referral adequacy in the endocrinology clinic workflow, coupled with focused requests for missing items, and a pre-visit lab appointment.

RESULTS

Between April 2015 and March 2016, 762 referrals were reviewed. At baseline for the four conditions, referrals contained all essential elements only 27.5% (22 of 80) of the time. Over a 7-month period, the team implemented the interventions, with subsequent referrals containing all essential elements increasing to 75.5% (P<.0001), largely attributable to the pre-visit lab appointment.

CONCLUSION

Incoming referrals that lack essential information are a significant problem in specialty care and may adversely affect patient experience, provider satisfaction, and clinic efficiency. Improvement may require innovative approaches, such as the potentially transferable and generalizable ones employed here.

ABBREVIATIONS

DHMC = Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center EHR = electronic health record PDSA = Plan-Do-Study-Act.

Preconception management of endocrine disorders

Endocrine function is closely interlinked with pregnancy. Maternal and foetal outcomes can be improved if optimal endocrine function is achieved, and maintained prior to conception. This needs a systematic approach which includes rational screening, appropriate management, and pragmatic counseling. This review describes aspects of pre conception management related to various endocrine glands. Pre conception management of diabetes and thyroid will be covered in later articles.

Acupuncture in endocrine disorders: a critical appraisal

Acupuncture is an integral part of ancient Chinese medical practice. The technique has been used extensively in pain relief and is being tried for many other chronic conditions. Industrial development and affluence lead to the increase in the prevalence of many endocrine disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and polycystic ovarian disease. The rising prevalence of the endocrine morbidity is observed in both the developing and developed nations. The management of these disorders involves major lifestyle modification coupled with a long-term drug intake. In such situations, patients often look at alternative therapeutic options existing in complementary and alternative medicine. The globalization of the world medical practice has led to the spread of acupuncture beyond China to other parts of the world. Acupuncture has been tried extensively in the management of various endocrine disorders with inconsistent results. In this review, we highlight the principles of acupuncture and its role in the management of various endocrine disorders.

[Vascular risk in endocrine diseases other than diabetes]

Endocrinological diseases directly affect the cardiovascular system. The deleterious effects on cardiovascular function can be direct, and linked to the increase or reduction of circulating hormones. Equally, the adverse effects may be indirect; for example following the rise in blood pressure, increase or redistribution of lean mass, or increased plasma lipoproteins. The best health care and the increasing availability of biochemical tests lead to the diagnosis of many endocrine diseases before the onset of clinical signs. This review will focus on presenting evidence of cardiovascular functional or structural impairment in cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, and hypothyroidism in their sub-clinical forms, as well as the reversibility of complications after appropriate treatment.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Review and Management of Endocrine Adverse Events

: In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as effective therapies for advanced neoplasias. As new checkpoint target blockers become available and additional tumor locations tested, their use is expected to increase within a short time. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affecting the endocrine system are among the most frequent and complex toxicities. Some may be life-threatening if not recognized; hence, appropriate guidance for oncologists is needed. Despite their high incidence, endocrine irAEs have not been fully described for all immunotherapy agents available. This article is a narrative review of endocrinopathies associated with cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, blockade of programmed death receptor 1 and its ligand inhibitors, and their combination. Thyroid dysfunction is the most frequent irAE reported, and hypophysitis is characteristic of ipilimumab. Incidence, timing patterns, and clinical presentation are discussed, and practical recommendations for clinical management are suggested. Heterogeneous terminology and lack of appropriate resolution criteria in clinical trials make adequate evaluation of endocrine AEs difficult. It is necessary to standardize definitions to contrast incidences and characterize toxicity patterns. To provide optimal care, a multidisciplinary team that includes endocrinology specialists is recommended.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are already part of oncologists' therapeutic arsenal as effective therapies for otherwise untreatable neoplasias, such as metastatic melanoma or lung cancer. Their use is expected to increase exponentially in the near future as additional agents become available and their approval is extended to different tumor types. Adverse events affecting the endocrine system are among the most frequent and complex toxicities oncologists may face, and some may be life-threatening if not recognized. This study reviews endocrinopathies associated to immune checkpoint inhibitors available to date. Incidence, timing patterns, and clinical presentation are discussed, and practical recommendations for management are proposed.

Obesity and tumor growth: inflammation, immunity, and the role of a ketogenic diet

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the impact the obese state has on malignancy through inflammation and immune dysregulation using recent excerpts from the medical literature.

RECENT FINDINGS

The obese state creates a proinflammatory endocrinologic milieu altering cellular signaling between adipocytes, immunologic cells, and epithelial cells, leading to the over-activation of adipose tissue macrophages and the upregulation of compounds associated with carcinogenesis. Obesity correlates with a deficiency in numerous immunologic cells, including dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and T cells. In part, this can be attributed to a recent finding of leptin receptor expression on these immune cells and the upregulation of leptin signaling in the obese state. A number of clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet as an adjuvant treatment for cancer, and current trials are investigating the impact of this intervention on disease outcomes. In preclinical trials, a ketogenic diet has been shown to impede tumor growth in a variety of cancers through anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and proapoptotic mechanisms.

SUMMARY

Obesity is becoming more prevalent and its link to cancer is clearly established providing a rationale for the implementation of dietary interventions as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy for malignancy.

PREDICTORS OF NONATTENDANCE AT AN ENDOCRINOLOGY OUTPATIENT CLINIC

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors potentially contributing to patients' nonattendance or to same-day cancellation of scheduled appointments at an adult endocrinology office practice.

METHODS

A retrospective, records-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 9,305 electronic medical records of patients presenting at a U.S. metropolitan adult endocrinology clinic in 2013. Statistical analyses included multivariate regression, calculated odds ratios, and posttest probabilities.

RESULTS

Of 29,178 total patient visits analyzed, 68% were attended by patients. Of total scheduled appointments, 7% resulted in nonattendance and 5% in same-day cancellation. The most significant predictors of nonatten-dance were a previous history of nonattendance (P<.001), uncontrolled diabetes (P<.001), and new patients to the practice (P<.001). Long lead-time to appointment (P = .001), younger age (P<.001), and certain insurance carriers (P<.001) also were significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

Specific predictors of nonattendance at scheduled appointments were identified using statistical analysis of electronic medical record data. Previous history of nonattendance and having uncontrolled diabetes (especially in patients newly referred to the practice) are among these significant predictors. Identifying specific predictors for nonattendance enables targeted strategies to be developed.

ABBREVIATIONS

APRN = Advanced Practice Registered Nurse CI = confidence interval DM = diabetes mellitus EMR = electronic medical record HbA1c = glycated hemoglobin NS = no-show OR = odds ratio SDC = same-day cancellation.

[Dementia due to Endocrine Diseases]

Endocrine diseases affecting various organs, such as the pituitary gland, the thyroid, the parathyroid, the adrenal glands and the pancreas, occasionally cause dementia. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in the elderly and is untreatable, dementia caused by endocrine diseases is treatable in most cases. However, patients with dementia associated with endocrine diseases show memory impairments similar to those found in AD, often leading to misdiagnoses. Patients with endocrine diseases often present with other characteristic systemic and neuropsychiatric symptoms caused by altered hormone levels. Such neuropsychiatric symptoms include involuntary movements, depression, seizures, and muscle weakness. In these cases, abnormalities in imaging and blood or urine tests are helpful in making a differential diagnosis. As delays in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients may cause irreversible brain damage, it is imperative for clinicians to carefully exclude the possibility of latent endocrine diseases when treating patients with dementia.

Endocrine manifestations of chronic HCV infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with a great number of extra-hepatic manifestations (EHMs), including several endocrine disorders. Currently available epidemiological, clinical and experimental data do not show a link between HCV and all EHMs. Thyroid disorders (TD) and type 2 diabetes, for example, are the most frequent endocrine alterations in patients with chronic HCV infection, but there are only weak evidences that HCV could be involved in hypothalamic-pituitary axis perturbation, bone metabolism alteration and sexual dysfunctions induction. Thus, this issue needs further investigation. Prospective studies have also shown that interferon (IFN)-based therapy for chronic HCV infection can induce or worsen EHMs. In particular, IFN has been associated with development of autoimmunity and/or TD in up to 40% of chronic HCV infected patients. Hence, a careful monitoring of thyroid function should be performed in such patients. The recent approval of direct-acting antiviral agents in IFN-free regimens for chronic hepatitis C treatment will dramatically reduce not only liver-related mortality but also morbidity due to EHMs.

Endocrine causes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the industrialized world. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing, becoming a substantial public health burden. NAFLD includes a broad spectrum of disorders, from simple conditions such as steatosis to severe manifestations such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. The relationship of NAFLD with metabolic alterations such as type 2 diabetes is well described and related to insulin resistance, with NAFLD being recognized as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. However, NAFLD may also coincide with endocrine diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency or hypercortisolism. It is therefore essential to remember, when discovering altered liver enzymes or hepatic steatosis on radiological exams, that endocrine diseases can cause NAFLD. Indeed, the overall prognosis of NAFLD may be modified by treatment of the underlying endocrine pathology. In this review, we will discuss endocrine diseases that can cause NALFD. Underlying pathophysiological mechanisms will be presented and specific treatments will be reviewed.

Understanding clinical investigations in children's endocrinology

Children and young people referred to paediatric endocrinology services present with a wide range of illnesses and disorders varying from minor to life-threatening conditions. This article introduces the role of the children's endocrine nurse in caring for children and families undergoing investigations that are frequently undertaken to identify specific problems associated with pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands. Although children with endocrine problems may be cared for in specialist centres, they may also present, for other health reasons, in secondary and primary care. In schools some children may need teachers to administer emergency medication. There is a high incidence of children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and an even higher incidence of congenital hypothyroidism. These children would benefit from health professionals having a broader understanding of their conditions. This article--the third in the endocrinology nursing series--aims to disseminate information and educate colleagues in children's nursing to raise the profile of children with long-term endocrine conditions.

MELAS syndrome: Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment options

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is one of the most frequent maternally inherited mitochondrial disorders. MELAS syndrome is a multi-organ disease with broad manifestations including stroke-like episodes, dementia, epilepsy, lactic acidemia, myopathy, recurrent headaches, hearing impairment, diabetes, and short stature. The most common mutation associated with MELAS syndrome is the m.3243A>G mutation in the MT-TL1 gene encoding the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)). The m.3243A>G mutation results in impaired mitochondrial translation and protein synthesis including the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex subunits leading to impaired mitochondrial energy production. The inability of dysfunctional mitochondria to generate sufficient energy to meet the needs of various organs results in the multi-organ dysfunction observed in MELAS syndrome. Energy deficiency can also stimulate mitochondrial proliferation in the smooth muscle and endothelial cells of small blood vessels leading to angiopathy and impaired blood perfusion in the microvasculature of several organs. These events will contribute to the complications observed in MELAS syndrome particularly the stroke-like episodes. In addition, nitric oxide deficiency occurs in MELAS syndrome and can contribute to its complications. There is no specific consensus approach for treating MELAS syndrome. Management is largely symptomatic and should involve a multidisciplinary team. Unblinded studies showed that l-arginine therapy improves stroke-like episode symptoms and decreases the frequency and severity of these episodes. Additionally, carnitine and coenzyme Q10 are commonly used in MELAS syndrome without proven efficacy.

Screening and management of adverse endocrine outcomes in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer

5 year survival for childhood and adolescent cancer in developed countries is now in excess of 80% and the number of survivors of cancer continues to increase worldwide. After completion of therapy, many of these survivors will face a lifelong risk of endocrine late effects. We summarise the available evidence related to the prevalence and risk factors for endocrine late effects among adult survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer. Present screening, surveillance, and treatment recommendations differ by country and region, so we also highlight the continued effort to harmonise the international guidelines for this population.

Transition of adolescents and young adults with endocrine diseases to adult health care

The transition of adolescents with chronic endocrine diseases to adult care remains a major challenge for all those participating in the process. In paediatric endocrinology, a variety of diseases pose different challenges in the transitional process. The outcome of this transitional process is often judged by what happens after transfer. The young patient needs to be educated early on about continuing treatment into adulthood, resulting in full autonomy over their health care in early adulthood. Therefore, to optimize transition, paediatric and adult endocrinologists must work together to achieve continuity and to meet the needs of young patients.

Next generation sequencing in endocrine practice

With the completion of the Human Genome Project and advances in genomic sequencing technologies, the use of clinical molecular diagnostics has grown tremendously over the last decade. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has overcome many of the practical roadblocks that had slowed the adoption of molecular testing for routine clinical diagnosis. In endocrinology, targeted NGS now complements biochemical testing and imaging studies. The goal of this review is to provide clinicians with a guide to the application of NGS to genetic testing for endocrine conditions, by compiling a list of established gene mutations detectable by NGS, and highlighting key phenotypic features of these disorders. As we outline in this review, the clinical utility of NGS-based molecular testing for endocrine disorders is very high. Identifying an exact genetic etiology improves understanding of the disease, provides clear explanation to families about the cause, and guides decisions about screening, prevention and/or treatment. To illustrate this approach, a case of hypophosphatasia with a pathogenic mutation in the ALPL gene detected by NGS is presented.

[Endocrine abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure - part I]

The kidney plays an important role in synthesis, metabolism and elimination of a plethora of hormones. In subjects with chronic renal failure, particularly at its later stages, these adaptive responses are impaired and some of these alterations are of clinical relevance. Endocrine disturbances which are the most characteristic for chronic renal failure include: secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis dysfunction and impaired growth. The pathogenesis of these complications is complex and multifactorial. This review discusses the most important changes in the function of the parathyroid glands, thyroid and the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 axis in the light of recent developments in this field. This article also tries to give insights into diagnosis and putative therapeutic strategies.

[Endocrine abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure - part II]

The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis of fluids and electrolytes, acid-base balance, and volume regulation. In subjects with chronic renal failure, particularly at its later stages, these adaptive responses are impaired and some of these alterations are of clinical relevance. The ways in which chronic renal failure affects function of endocrine organs include impaired secretion of kidney-derived hormones, altered peripheral hormone metabolism, disturbed binding to carrier proteins, accumulation of hormone inhibitors, as well as abnormal target organ responsiveness. Apart from secondary hyperparathyroidism, thyroid dysfunction and impaired growth, reviewed in our previous study, endocrine disturbances that most frequently affect this group of patients include: abnormal functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamicpituitary- gonadal axes, bone loss and gynecomastia. The clinical picture and laboratory findings of these endocrine disturbances depend on the treatment strategy.

Commentary: Launch of a quality improvement network for evidence-based management of uncommon pediatric endocrine disorders: Turner syndrome as a prototype

BACKGROUND

Traditional, hypothesis-oriented research approaches have thus far failed to generate sufficient evidence to achieve consensus about the management of children with many endocrine disorders, partly because of the rarity of these disorders and because of regulatory burdens unique to research in children.

OBJECTIVE

The Pediatric Endocrine Society is launching a quality improvement network in spring 2015 for the management of pediatric endocrine disorders that are relatively uncommon in any single practice and/or for which there is no consensus on management.

DESIGN

The first of the quality improvement programs to be implemented seeks to improve the care of 11- to 17-year-old girls with Turner syndrome who require initiation of estrogen replacement therapy by providing a standardized clinical assessment and management plan (SCAMP) for transdermal estradiol treatment to induce pubertal development. The SCAMP algorithm represents a starting point within current best practice that is meant to undergo refinement through an iterative process of analysis of deidentified data collected in the course of clinical care by a network of pediatric endocrinologists.

CONCLUSION

It is anticipated that this program will not only improve care, but will also result in actionable data that will generate new research hypotheses and changes in management of pediatric endocrine disorders.

Endocrine disorders in Fanconi anemia: recommendations for screening and treatment

CONTEXT

Endocrine problems are common in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA). About 80% of children and adults with FA have at least one endocrine abnormality, including short stature, GH deficiency, abnormal glucose or insulin metabolism, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, pubertal delay, hypogonadism, or impaired fertility. The goal of this report is to provide an overview of endocrine abnormalities and guidelines for routine screening and treatment to allow early diagnosis and timely intervention.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

This work is based on a comprehensive literature review, including relevant articles published between 1971 and 2014, and proceedings of a Consensus Conference held by the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in 2013.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The panel of experts collected published evidence and discussed its relevance to reflect current information about the endocrine care of children and adults with FA before the Consensus Conference and through subsequent deliberations that led to the consensus.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with FA should be routinely screened for endocrine abnormalities, including evaluation of growth; glucose, insulin, and lipid metabolism; thyroid function; puberty; gonadal function; and bone mineral metabolism. Inclusion of an endocrinologist as part of the multidisciplinary patient care team is key to providing comprehensive care for patients with FA.

Selected highlights of the VIII International Symposium of Clinicians for Endocrinopathies in Thalassemia and Adolescent Medicine (ICET-A) on Growth, Puberty and Endocrine Complications in Thalassaemia. Auditorium of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), 20th of December 2014

The VIII ICET-A International Symposium was held in Muscat (Sultanate of Oman) on the 20th of December, 2014. The symposium included four sessions on a wide range of topics covering growth disorders and endocrine complications in thalassaemia. Despite the fact that endocrine complications are very common in multi-transfused thalassaemia patients a recent survey conducted by the International Network of Clinicians for Endocrinopathies in Thalassemia and Adolescent Medicine (ICET-A) in 2014 in Acitrezza (Catania, Italy) showed that the major difficulties reported by hematologists or pediatricians experienced in thalassaemias or thalassaemia syndromes in following endocrine complications included: Lack of familiarity with medical treatment of endocrine complications, interpretation of endocrine tests, lack of collaboration and on-time consultation between thalassaemic centres supervised by haematologists and endocrinologists. Endocrine monitoring of growth, pubertal development, reproductive ability and endocrine function in general are essential to achieve a good quality of life as well as controlling the pain which results from the defects of bone structure, all of which increase with the age of patients. Such comprehensive care is best provided by coordinated, multidisciplinary teams working in expert centres. The multidisciplinary team must include an endocrinologist, preferably someone experienced in the management of hormonal deficiencies caused early in life by transfusion-induced iron overload.

Transforming the endocrine consult: asynchronous provider consultations

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the impact of virtual consultations on the spectrum and volume of endocrine consults, access to endocrine care, and downstream healthcare utilization.

METHODS

A program (eConsults) designed to enable and reimburse asynchronous consultations between primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists at the University of California, San Francisco, was launched in 2012. All eConsults (n = 158) submitted to endocrinology over the first year were analyzed for clinical focus and use of structured referral templates. PCP compliance with specialist recommendations was measured and stratified by provider type. Impact on endocrine referral volume was calculated using simple linear regression. Changes in wait times to endocrine care were analyzed comparing administrative data from the year of and the year prior to the introduction of eConsults. Downstream endocrine office visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations were captured by chart abstraction for all standard endocrine eConsults (n = 113).

RESULTS

The proportion of endocrine referrals sent as eConsults (15 to 22%) was significantly higher than the combined average for all other participating specialties (7.4%) (P<.001). Overall, 76.0% of endocrinologist recommendations were fully implemented. There was no induced demand in total volume of referrals to endocrinology, and introduction of eConsults significantly improved access to endocrine care (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 4.9). Rates of downstream healthcare utilization within 6 months of a completed eConsult were low.

CONCLUSION

Use of virtual consultations in a fee-for-service, academic medical center setting significantly improved access to endocrine care and the quality of referrals. Increasing recognition and reimbursement of nontraditional consultation models will be essential to scaling and disseminating these programs.

Referring Quality Assessment of Primary Health Care for Endocrinology in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This paper presents results of an assessment of the quality research of endocrinology referrals in the public health system in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. From the analysis of 4,458 requests for endocrinology referrals, it was found that 15% of referrals had insufficient information for evaluation and 71% showed no clinical justification for authorization of referencing. The partial results of the study indicated that the lack of information makes it impossible to clinically regulate these requests. The use of referencing protocols associated with telemedicine tools can assist doctors in primary health care in the clinical management and make access to specialized services more equitable and timely.

Cystinosis in adult and adolescent patients: Recommendations for the comprehensive care of cystinosis

INTRODUCTION

Cystinosis is a rare lysosomal systemic disease that mainly affects the kidney and the eye. Patients with cystinosis begin renal replacement therapy during the first decade of life in absence of treatment. Prognosis of cystinosis depends on early diagnosis, and prompt starting and good compliance with cysteamine treatment. Kidney disease progression, extra-renal complications and shorter life expectancy are more pronounced in those patients that do not follow treatment. The objective of this work was to elaborate recommendations for the comprehensive care of cystinosis and the facilitation of patient transition from paediatric to adult treatment, based on clinical experience. The goal is to reduce the impact of the disease, and to improve patient quality of life and prognosis.

METHODS

Bibliographic research and consensus meetings among a multidisciplinary professional team of experts in the clinical practice, with cystinotic patients (T-CiS.bcn group) from 5 hospitals located in Barcelona.

RESULTS

This document gathers specific recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary follow-up of cystinotic patients in the following areas: nephrology, dialysis,renal transplant, ophthalmology, endocrinology, neurology, laboratory, genetic counselling,nursing and pharmacy.

CONCLUSIONS

A reference document for the comprehensive care of cystinosis represents a support tool for health professionals who take care of these patients. It is based on the following main pillars: (a) a multi-disciplinary approach, (b) appropriate disease monitoring and control of intracellular cystine levels in leukocytes, (c) the importance of adherence to treatment with cysteamine, and (d) the promotion of patient self-care by means of disease education programmes. All these recommendations will lead us, in a second phase, to create a coordinated transition model between paediatric and adult care services which will contemplate the specific needs of cystinosis.

Towards an optimization of the management of endocrine complications of thalassemia

Children with thalassemia are living longer due to better care. Physicians dealing with this group of patients now have to contend with new challenges resulting from iron overload. Endocrine complications represent the most common morbidities encountered. To provide a better quality of life, these complications have to be addressed in a consistent way. For this purpose, we have compiled a set of recommendations to help physicians provide the best care possible to these patients.

Therapy of endocrine disease: treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (MPPs) present clinicians with three major challenges: scarcity, complexity of characterization, and heterogeneous behavior and prognosis. As with the treatment for all neuroendocrine tumors, the control of hormonal symptoms and tumor growth is the main therapeutic objective in MPP patients. A significant number of MPP patients still die from uncontrolled hormone secretion. In addition, the management of MPPs remains palliative. Steps forward include proper characterization of MPP patients at large cancer referral centers with multidisciplinary teams; improved strategies to stratify patients prognostically; and implementation of trials within national and international networks. Progress in the molecular characterization and staging of MPPs constitutes the basis for significant treatment breakthroughs.