[Fetal growth and glycemic control in type 1 diabetes pregnancy]

INTRODUCTION

Conflicting results have been reported with respect to the relationship between direct or indirect measures of glycemic control in mothers with type 1 diabetes and macrosomia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the frequency of LGA babies in type 1 diabetic pregnancies and analyse the influence of some maternal characteristics and glucose control in oversized babies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 18 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus was performed. It was divided in two groups: group 1 (G1- n=9)--pregnant women with LGA babies and group 2 (G2- n=9)--pregnant women with AGA (Appropriate weight for gestational age) babies. We evaluate the follow parameters: HbA1c in the third trimester of pregnancy, fasting and 1 h postprandial capillary glucose levels, pregestational BMI, maternal age, duration of Diabetes mellitus, weight gain during pregnancy, microvascular diabetes complications (retinopathy and nefropathy), and type of delivery. We defined LGA birth weight over the 90 centile.

RESULTS

LGA babies occurred in 50% of gestations. We did not find any statistical differences in maternal age, diabetes mellitus duration, pregestational BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, microvascular diabetes complications, HbA1c levels (medium value in the two groups 6,5%). The glucose fasting values were higher in G1: 95,7 +/- 31.7 mg/ dl, vs G2: 83.3 +/- 17.1 mg/dl without, however, reaching statistically significant differences. There was statically differences in postprandial glucose values G1: 160.3 +/- 60.2 mg/dl vs G2: 111.9 +/- 27.1 mg/dl -- p= 0.043.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of LGA babies was elevated 50% in type 1 diabetic pregnancies, although normal HbA1c values. Thus we conclude that the 1 h postprandial glucose levels should be considered a strong predictor of fetal growth.

[Acute thyroiditis]

We review the pathophysiology, clinical features and therapy of acute thyroiditis. Four cases are reported stressing the role of fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of this clinical entity.

The hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumour syndrome in a Portuguese kindred

The hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumour (HPT-JT) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the occurrence of parathyroid tumours and fibro-osseous tumours of the jaw bones. Some HPT-JT patients may also develop renal abnormalities, which include Wilms' tumours, hamartomas and polycystic disease. The HPT-JT gene has been mapped to chromosome 1q25-q31, and we report the clinical and genetic findings in a kindred from central Portugal. HPT-JT was observed in six members from three generations; all had primary hyperparathyroidism (five had parathyroid adenomas, one a parathyroid carcinoma). Ossifying jaw fibromas affecting the maxilla and/or mandible were observed in 5/6. Renal cysts (<2.5 cm) were observed in four. Genetic studies using 18 polymorphic loci from chromosome 1q25-q31, together with leukocyte DNA from 11 family members and tumour DNA from three parathyroids (two adenomas and one carcinoma), revealed loss of tumour heterozygosity in the parathyroid carcinoma only, and the retained haplotype was found to cosegregate with the disease in the six affected members. A new Portuguese kindred with the HPT-JT syndrome that maps to chromosome 1q25-q31 has been identified, and these findings will help in the further characterization of this inherited disorder.

[deficiency of growth hormone in children. Re-evaluation after therapeutic completion]

OBJECTIVE

To assess GH secretion in young adults treated with GH replacement therapy in childhood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From the 38 patients who concluded treatment with GH, we studied 20 (52.6%), 9 girls and 11 boys. Thirteen had Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)-65%, while 7 had Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (MPHD)-35%. The patients were retested within 6 months to 6 years after completing GH therapy. The mean age (+/- SD) at retesting was 18.1 +/- 2.6 years for those with GHD and 20.8 +/- 2.8 for those with MPHD. At reassessment we performed two provocative tests: insulin tolerance test (ITT) and clonidine test.

RESULTS

Seven of the 20 patients retested, retained GH deficiency. Of the 13 patients with GHD, only one maintained the deficiency, while of the 7 patients with MPHD, 6 maintained the deficiency.

CONCLUSION

Young adults with GH deficiency treated with this hormone should be retested in order to identify those who are truly GH insufficient adults and may benefit from replacement therapy.

[Kidney transplantation in patients with type I and type II diabetes mellitus]

A total of 618 patients with end-stage renal disease received kidney transplants between 1980 and September 1996. Twenty eight of them were diabetics. Better results were achieved for type 1 diabetic patients than for type 2 (mortality: 5.9% vs 27.3%; functioning graft: 88.2% vs 72.7%). The morbility was also higher in those patients (infections: 81.8% vs 29.4%; vascular complications: 45.5% vs 17.6%). Actuarial patient and graft survival were lower for type 2 than for non diabetic patients. For type 1 diabetics the results are similar to those for non diabetics. Better results can probably be achieved by restricting the selection criteria. The decision to transplant or maintain on dialysis should be made on a case by case basis.

[Prevalence of arterial hypertension in Cushing's syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of hypertension (HT) in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 23 patients with Cushing's syndrome, 17 women (mean +/- SD age = 42.8 +/- 15.6 years) and 6 men (mean +/- SD age = 34.8 +/- 10.2 years). The etiologies were: 16-Cushing's disease, 3-suprarenal adenoma, 2-suprarenal carcinoma and 2-iatrogenic. Blood pressure (BP) was measured at least three times and we consider hypertension when systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HT, at diagnosis, was 73.9% (64.7% in women and 100% in men) and the mean BP was 163 +/- 25/100 +/- 16 mmHg (158 +/- 26/97 +/- 15 mmHg in women and 182 +/- 5/114 +/- 10 mmHg in men). From the 16 patients with Cushing's disease, 13 (81%) had HT; all the patients (n = 3) with suprarenal adenoma had HT; none with suprarenal carcinoma (n = 2) had HT and only 1 of the 2 patients with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome had HT. After treatment, 14 patients entered remission, 6 persisted with active disease and 1 was missed during the follow-up. In the group of patients that entered remission, the prevalence of HT at diagnosis was 78.5% (n = 11), 57.1% (n = 8) being after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found a high prevalence of HT at diagnosis (73.9%). After treatment and in the patients that entered remission, the prevalence of HT remained high (78.5% vs 57.1%). The high prevalence of HT in Cushing's syndrome, suggests its importance as a morbidity factor and also as an important diagnostic indicator, when present.

[The prevalence of hypertension in acromegaly]

AIM

To estimate the prevalence of hypertension (HT) in a group of patients with acromegaly at the moment of diagnosis and after treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-seven patients, 43 females and 14 males with a mean age of 45.19 +/- 11.9 years were studied retrospectively. In the last visit 9 patients (15.7%) were in remission and 47 (84.2%) had active acromegaly. We considered hypertensive the patients with systolic BP > or = 140 and/or diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg. Hypertension was classified in four stages:- mild, moderate, severe and very severe.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension at the moment of diagnosis was 35%. The hypertensive patients had a mean age of 51.75 +/- 9.3 years and normotensive patients 41.65 +/- 11.6 years (p < 0.001). In females the prevalence of HT was 27.9% and in males it was 57% (p = NS). In hypertensive patients (n = 20), the mean BP was 159 +/- 15 (syst.)/97.2 +/- 9.8 (diast.), 16 patients (80%) had mild to moderate HT and the remainder had severe (n = 2) and very severe (n=1) HT. In the last visit, 22.2% of patients were cured and 46.8% of those with active acromegaly were hypertensive. None of the patients cured and initially normotensive developed HT; among those that were hypertensive (n = 3), 2 remained hypertensive and 1 became normotensive. Among patients with active acromegaly and initially normotensive, 7 developed HT 4.85 +/- 2.03 years later; of those hypertensive at diagnosis (n = 16), only one became normotensive. The last case was 27 years old. The patients that remained hypertensive had a mean age of 53.8 +/- 6.85 years (41-62 years).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of hypertension at the moment of diagnosis was 35%, similar to the majority of studies published and higher than the general population. The hypertensive patients were significantly older the normotensive patients and most of them had mild to moderate HT. We observed an increase in the prevalence of HT over the years in the cases that maintained active acromegaly. In our series only one of the three patients cured became normotensive, therefore, we concluded that HT in acromegaly is frequently irreversible. The chances of normalization seems higher in younger patients and probably with a shorter duration of acromegaly.

[24-hour arterial pressure study and diabetic neuropathy and angiopathy of the lower limbs]

AIMS

To study the circadian variation of BP in diabetics with chronic late complications (autonomic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy and macroangiopathy of the lower limbs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 35 NIDDM patients, 22 male and 13 female, with a mean age of 62.17 +/- 8.66 years, all with hypertension (HBP) or with BP levels close to normal, many of them under anti-hypertensive therapy (mean BP in clinical measurements: 164 +/- 23.16 mmHg systolic and 92.14 +/- 11.06 mmHg diastolic). Twenty-four suffer from autonomic neuropathy, 23 from peripheral neuropathy and 11 from macroangiopathy of the lower limbs. The control group is composed of 10 patients with essential HBP without other observable pathology, with a mean age of 68.5 +/- 3.63 years and BP in clinical measurements: systolic 192 +/- 15.49 mmHg and diastolic 88 +/- 4.21 mmHg (without any previous therapy). The record of the BP circadian profile was made, with the use of a Spacelab monitor, model 90207, 5 days after anti-hypertensive therapy was suspended.

RESULTS

The mean BPs in 24 hours were: control group-systolic BP 152.6 +/- 13 mmHg and diastolic 79.8 +/- 13 mmHg; diabetics-systolic BP 136.82 +/- 15 mmHg and diastolic 77.4 +/- 8 mmHg. The daily and nocturnal mean BPs were 158.5 +/- 8.5 and 146 +/- 8.4 mmHg (systolic) and 82.8 +/- 5.7 and 70.9 +/- 5.1 mmHg (diastolic) in the control group, while they were, in diabetics, 141.3 +/- 15.7 and 135.6 +/- 16.6 mmHg (systolic) and 79.6 +/- 7.1 and 72 +/- 8.2 mmHg (diastolic). In diabetic patients, considering the groups with and without autonomic neuropathy, the difference between daily and nocturnal mean BP was 1.6 vs 9.4 mmHg systolic and 4.9 vs 9.4 mmHg, diastolic.

CONCLUSIONS

In both groups, the mean BP levels in 24 hours were notoriously lower than those obtained from the clinical measurements: the differences were 40 mmHg (control group) and 27.2 mmHg (diabetics) for systolic BP and 8.2 mmHg (control group) and 14.7 mmHg (diabetics) for diastolic. The BP circadian profiles show a lower variability, with absence of the nocturnal reduction, specially evident in diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy versus other groups.

[Diabetes mellitus after renal transplant]

Posttransplant Diabetes Mellitus (PTDM) has traditionally been attributed to therapy with steroids, however with the introduction of Cyclosporine (cya) into clinical practice, an increase in the incidence of PTDM was noted. We studied the prevalence of PTDM in Renal transplant recipients and its clinical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

355 patients were submitted to a renal transplant between 30/06/80 and 31/12/92. After stabilization of the doses of the immunosuppressive therapy we considered diabetic patients those with fasting glycemic values > or = 140 mg/dl and those with glycemic values between 100-140 mg/dl were given to an oral glucose tolerance test (WHO criteria 1985).

RESULTS

Posttransplant diabetes mellitus occurred in 28 patients (7.9%), 11 females with a mean age of 53.36 +/- 12.75 years and 17 males with a mean age of 51.05 +/- 10.60 years.

DISCUSSION

Due to the great prevalence of alterations in glucose tolerance and their adverse effects on the cardio-vascular system, we think that all renal transplant recipients should be screened.

[Pulmonary valve endocarditis caused by Streptococcus bovis]

The authors report a case of isolated infective endocarditis of the pulmonary valve due to Streptococcus bovis in a 62-year-old male presented with delayed fever of unknown origin. There were no predisposing factors such as i.v. drug abuse or congenital heart disease. The clinical course was complicated with an epidose of pulmonary emboli occurring after the onset of treatment. The patient responded to the appropriate antibiotics without requiring valve surgery. The association of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis and bacteremia with colonic neoplasia has been reported in the literature. In this case the evaluation of the colon was negative.