Clinical profile of adult patients with Hyperglycemic Crisis at the De La Salle University Medical Center, a ten-year retrospective study

Abstract@#This current study aims to report the clinical profiles and characteristics of diabetic patients who had been admitted for hyperglycemic crises from 2007 to 2017 at our institution. @*Methodology@#We conducted a retrospective study in a tertiary care university hospital outside Metro Manila. The data gathered were divided into three categories: clinical data, biochemical data and precipitating factors. @*Results@#A total of 3,120 adult patients with diabetes mellitus were admitted for various reasons, and 71 cases presented with DKA or HHS over the 10-year period of review which is equivalent to 2% of all diabetes mellitus cases admitted. Forty-six (64.79%) of the patients with hyperglycemic crises were known diabetics with a duration of 7-13 years. Majority of patients were not taking anti diabetic medications upon admission. Most patients with hyperglycemic crises were tachycardic and hypertensive upon admission. Majority were discharged and improved. Majority of the cases 53 (81.69%) had DKA. The most common precipitating factor in DKA and HHS was infection.@*Conclusion@#In conclusion, the biochemical profiles in our series did not significantly differ from the past study by Gatbonton et.al (1998). Despite the advent of new therapies for diabetes mellitus control, mortality among the patients with hyperglycemic crises was slightly higher in our study at 11% compared to the global reported data of 2-10%. One of the reasons could be the minimal improvements in our health care delivery system that is still unable to cater to the needs of diabetic Filipinos. Early screening programs should be done for patients beginning age 40 years and even earlier for those with risk factors for prompt detection and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Education and awareness should be strengthened for patients with diabetes mellitus to avoid the crises by emphasizing the importance of regular follow-up, monitoring and compliance with a diabetic regimen, especially with insulin and multiple OADs (oral anti- diabetic drugs) since the disease is progressive, and timely intensification of therapy is needed.

Rapid preoperative preparation for thyroidectomy of a severely hyperthyroid patient with Graves’ Disease who developed agranulocytosis / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#Preoperative preparation of the hyperthyroid patient for thyroidectomy is imperative to avoid perioperative complications due to severe thyrotoxicosis. The mainstay of preparation is the administration of anti-thyroid drugs (ATD). When ATDs cause adverse reactions, an alternative regimen to prepare the patient for definitive management is crucial. We present the case of a 35-year-old Filipino female with Graves’ disease who developed methimazole-induced agranulocytosis. She refused to undergo radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. She was admitted for thyroidectomy with elevated thyroid hormone levels. She was rapidly prepared for thyroidectomy using high-dose steroid, beta-adrenergic blocker, propylthiouracil (PTU) and Lugol’s solution. The patient’s free thyroxine level decreased after 8 days of treatment, without complications. She then underwent an uneventful subtotal thyroidectomy. In conditions with very limited options, although contraindicated, administration of another ATD may be the last alternative for patients who developed agranulocytosis.

Incidence of postpartum diabetes and glucose intolerance among Filipino patients with gestational diabetes mellitus seen at a tertiary hospital / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

Objective@#Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes. This study aims to determine the incidence of postpartum diabetes and/or glucose intolerance among Filipino GDM patients who delivered at a tertiary hospital in Manila and to compare the risk factors present among these women. @*Methodology@#173 Filipino patients were included in this 3-year prospective cohort study. Demographics, clinical variables, and feto-maternal outcomes were recorded. 124 patients returned for follow-up and postpartum glycemic status was determined using 75g oral glucose tolerance test.@*Results@#The incidence of diabetes and prediabetes postpartum was 7.3% and 34.7% respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that multigravid patients (OR=2.84; 95% CI 1.20,6.70) and those with postpartum obesity (OR=2.84; 95% CI 1.20,6.70) are more likely to have prediabetes. Diagnosis of GDM at an earlier trimester increases the odds of having postpartum diabetes (OR=3.05; 95% CI 1.02,9.18). Also, if the body mass index falls under obese class II postpartum, the probability increases 115 times (95% ci 3.96,3357.83; p=0.006). @*Conclusion@#The incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance among Filipino women with GDM is high. Clinicians should be more vigilant and strategies to implement compliance to postpartum glucose testing must be formulated to increase rates of follow-up testing among these women.