Fructosamine--an underutilized tool in diabetes management: case report and literature review.

Glucose binds irreversibly to a variety of structures, including hemoglobin and proteins, by non-enzymatic glycosylation. Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measures the blood glucose control over the lifespan of the RBCs. The importance of routinely assessing HbA1c in diabetic patients is well established. Both individual and institutional performance in the diabetes arena may be judged by the number of patients reaching target HbA1c values. In some patients, however, the HbA1c does not accurately portray glycemic control and may delay treatment for poorly-controlled diabetes. We report on a patient in whom the HbA1c values were falsely low as a result of hemolytic anemia associated with Myelodysplastic syndrome. The patient had consistent elevation of glucose values. Fructosamine measurement was able to confirm poorly-controlled diabetes and assist in improving diabetes control. Fructosamine is unaffected by disorders of red blood cells, which have a profound potential influence on HbA1c. Fructosamine also has the advantage of accurately reflecting shorter-term changes in glycemia that correspond to the half-life of albumin. In diabetic patients with HbA1c values below the lower limit of normal, a routine Fructosamine level should be performed. We recommend a Fructosamine level should be considered in all patients with red blood cell disorders or with discrepancies between glucose measurements and HbAlc values. Fructosamine, an inexpensive assay, is currently underused in the clinical practice. A guideline for using Fructosamine levels is included and some of the pitfalls in relying solely on the HbAlc are discussed.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and endocrine diseases--part a: hyperthyroidism.

Endocrine abnormalities can result in many different electrocardiographic abnormalities that can be confusing to the interpreting physician. Recognition and proper interpretation of these changes is helpful in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of various endocrine diseases. Knowing these changes can help physicians avoid the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, hypertrophy and arrhythmias in cases when the electrocardiographic changes are in reality because of disturbed endocrine function or the abnormal metabolic state.

Marked bilateral parotid enlargement in metabolic syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Bilateral non inflammatory salivary gland enlargement (sialadenosis) is seen with a diverse number of diseases. It is commonly recognized in alcoholism, anorexia and bulimia nervosa and HIV infections. The association between diabetes mellitus and sialadenosis has been reported rarely in the last three decades. We report a patient with sialadenosis in association with metabolic syndrome. We discuss the clinical implications of this novel association including possible regression of salivary gland enlargement with intensive glycemic and lipid control.

Nodular pulmonary histoplasmosis in Cushing's disease: a case report and literature review.

Opportunistic infections are well documented in states of steroid excess. To our knowledge, histoplasmosis has not been previously reported in Cushing's disease, and has rarely been reported in patients with exogenous glucocorticoid use. We report a novel presentation of Histoplasmosis as pulmonary nodules in a patient with Cushing's disease. A 45-year-old man with a pituitary macroadenoma and Cushing's disease was treated with transsphenoidal hypophysectomy and radiation therapy. He was receiving Ketoconazole and basal steroid replacement, when he presented with dyspnea. Chest radiograph showed nodular lesions and subsequent biopsy revealed Histoplasma capsulatum. Itraconazole was administered and the patient recovered. The case not only demonstrates the protean manifestations of Histoplasmosis in patients with glucocorticoid excess but it also emphasizes the importance of intensive control of the hypercortisolemia in achieving a favorable outcome.

Treating amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis with radioactive iodine.

Amiodarone use in the United States is increasing including a role in advanced cardiac life support protocols. There has been a significant increase in hypothyroidism, destructive thyroiditis (type II), and iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (type I) with amiodarone. Preexisting thyroid disease and status of iodine intake can determine the nature of iodine-induced thyroid disease. Treating amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may include traditional antithyroid agents, glucocorticoids, and surgery. Usually, it is assumed the radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) will be low, and this choice as a treatment modality is excluded at the initial visit. We report a satisfactory outcome in a patient with AIT using radioactive iodine. The role of radioactive iodine in treating AIT is reviewed

Infectious causes of adrenal insufficiency.

More than 150 years ago, Thomas Addison first described the clinical features and pathogenesis of adrenal insufficiency. At that time, tuberculosis was the most common cause of this disease. The pathway to diagnosis and treatment of Addison's disease has been well described. However, determining the cause of the disorder remains a challenge. It is important to consider recently described infectious agents in the pathogenesis of Addison's disease. Mycobacterial, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections may lead to the development of adrenal insufficiency. Skin, pulmonary, and imaging findings can aid the clinician in making a prompt diagnosis of specific infections, which is crucial because early identification of infectious causes of Addison's disease may enable recovery of adrenal function. This review describes the clinical presentations of the multiple infectious causes of adrenal insufficiency.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumor and Hashimoto's disease: a novel association.

A 69-year-old man was referred for elevated thyroid hormone levels. He had no symptoms apart from mild hyperhidrosis and heat intolerance with occasional headaches. Past medical history included a right hemithyroidectomy for a multinodular goiter and Hashimoto's disease. At presentation the patient had a firm, slightly enlarged left thyroid lobe. There were no visual abnormalities, and the rest of the physical findings were unremarkable. Laboratory findings included elevated values of free T4, free T3, total T3, thyrotropin-secreting hormone (TSH), antithyroglobulin, and antimicrosomal antibodies. Normal values were found for cortisol, prolactin, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, alpha-subunit, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. Thyroid 123I scan showed an increased 5-hour uptake of 23% and a 24-hour uptake of 53% with a diffuse uniform enlargement of the left side. TSH level did not increase after a thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test. Serum sex hormone binding globulin was elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary revealed a pituitary macroadenoma with suprasellar extension to the optic chiasm. Histologic examination of the adenoma after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy showed cells that stained positive for TSH. TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas account for 1% of functioning pituitary tumors and are an exceedingly rare cause of hyperthyroidism. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pituitary tumor inducing hyperthyroidism in the setting of Hashimoto's disease. There is a possibility that TSH elevation related to Hashimoto's disease might have contributed to the development of a TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma.