Differences in the clinical and hormonal presentation of patients with familial and sporadic primary aldosteronism.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and hormonal characteristics of patients with familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) and sporadic primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed for the identification of FH patients. The SPAIN-ALDO registry cohort of patients with no suspicion of FH was chosen as the comparator group (sporadic group). Results: A total of 360 FH (246 FH type I, 73 type II, 29 type III, and 12 type IV) cases and 830 sporadic PA patients were included. Patients with FH-I were younger than sporadic cases, and women were more commonly affected (P = 0.003). In addition, the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) was lower, plasma renin activity (PRA) higher, and hypokalemia (P < 0.001) less frequent than in sporadic cases. Except for a younger age (P < 0.001) and higher diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.006), the clinical and hormonal profiles of FH-II and sporadic cases were similar. FH-III had a distinct phenotype, with higher PAC and higher frequency of hypokalemia (P < 0.001), and presented 45 years before sporadic cases. Nevertheless, the clinical and hormonal phenotypes of FH-IV and sporadic cases were similar, with the former being younger and having lower serum potassium levels. Conclusion: In addition to being younger and having a family history of PA, FH-I and III share other typical characteristics. In this regard, FH-I is characterized by a low prevalence of hypokalemia and FH-III by a severe aldosterone excess causing hypokalemia in more than 85% of patients. The clinical and hormonal phenotype of type II and IV is similar to the sporadic cases.

Renin as a Biomarker to Guide Medical Treatment in Primary Aldosteronism Patients. Findings from the SPAIN-ALDO Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with several cardiometabolic comorbidities. Specific treatment by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) or adrenalectomy has been reported to reduce the cardiometabolic risk. However, the cardiovascular benefit could depend on plasma renin levels in patients on MRA. AIM: To compare the development of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications between medically treated patients with PA and those who underwent adrenalectomy, taking the renin status during MRA treatment into account. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study (SPAIN-ALDO Register) of patients with PA treated at 35 Spanish tertiary hospitals. Patients on MRA were divided into two groups based on renin suppression (n = 90) or non-suppression (n = 70). Both groups were also compared to unilateral PA patients (n = 275) who achieved biochemical cure with adrenalectomy. RESULTS: Adrenalectomized patients were younger, had higher plasma aldosterone concentration, and lower potassium levels than MRA group. Patients on MRA had similar baseline characteristics when stratified into treatment groups with suppressed and unsuppressed renin. 97 (55.1%) of 176 patients without comorbidities at diagnosis, developed at least one comorbidity during follow-up (median 12 months vs. 12.5 months' follow-up after starting MRA and surgery, respectively). Surgery group had a lower risk of developing new cardiovascular events (HR 0.40 [95% CI 0.18-0.90]) than MRA group. Surgical treatment improved glycemic and blood pressure control, increased serum potassium levels, and required fewer antihypertensive drugs than medical treatment. However, there were no differences in the cardiometabolic profile or the incidence of new comorbidities between the groups with suppressed and unsuppressed renin levels (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.52-1.73]). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic events were comparable in MRA patients with unsuppressed and suppressed renin. Effective surgical treatment of PA was associated with a decreased incidence of new cardiovascular events when compared to MRA therapy.

Is adrenal venous sampling always necessary to differentiate between unilateral and bilateral primary aldosteronism? Lesson from the SPAIN-ALDO register.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the clinical, biochemical and radiological features of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) can predict both main subtypes of PA. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study of PA patients followed in 27 Spanish tertiary hospitals (SPAIN-ALDO Register). Only patients with confirmed unilateral or bilateral PA based on adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and/or postsurgical biochemical cure after adrenalectomy were included. Supervised regression techniques were used for model development. RESULTS: 328 patients [270 unilateral PA (UPA), 58 bilateral PA (BPA)] were included. The area under the curve (AUC) for aldosterone/potassium ratio and aldosterone responses following saline infusion test were 0.602 [95%CI 0.520 to 0.684] and 0.574 [95% CI 0.446-0.701], respectively, to differentiate UPA from BPA. The AUC was 0.825 [95% 0.764-0.886] when the prediction model with seven parameters - comorbidities (dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, sleep apnea syndrome [SAS]), systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma aldosterone levels (PAC), hypokalemia and unilateral adrenal nodule >1 cm and normal contralateral adrenal gland on CT/MRI - was used. In patients without comorbidities, hypokalemia, SBP > 160 mmHg, PAC > 40 ng/dL, and unilateral adrenal lesions were associated with a likelihood of having a UPA of 98.5%. The chance of BPA was higher in individuals with comorbidities, SBP < 140 mmHg, normokalemia, low PAC levels, and no adrenal tumors on the CT/MRI (91.5%). CONCLUSION: A combination of high PAC, SBP > 160 mmHg, low serum potassium, a unilateral adrenal nodule>1 cm and no comorbidities could predict a UPA with a 98.5% accuracy.

An Integrated CT and MRI Imaging Model to Differentiate between Adrenal Adenomas and Pheochromocytomas.

PURPOSE: to perform an external validation of our predictive model to rule out pheochromocytoma (PHEO) based on unenhanced CT in a cohort of patients with PHEOs and adenomas who underwent adrenalectomy. METHODS: The predictive model was previously developed in a retrospective cohort of 1131 patients presenting with adrenal lesions. In the present study, we performed an external validation of the model in another cohort of 214 patients with available histopathological results. RESULTS: For the external validation, 115 patients with PHEOs and 99 with adenomas were included. Our previously described predictive model combining the variables of high lipid content and tumor size in unenhanced CT (AUC-ROC: 0.961) had a lower diagnostic accuracy in our current study population for the prediction of PHEO (AUC: 0.750). However, when we excluded atypical adenomas (with Hounsfield units (HU) > 10, n = 39), the diagnostic accuracy increased to 87.4%. In addition, in the whole cohort (including atypical adenomas), when MRI information was included in the model, the diagnostic accuracy increased to up to 85% when the variables tumor size, high lipid content in an unenhanced CT scan, and hyperintensity in the T2 sequence in MRI were included. The probability of PHEO was <0.3% for adrenal lesions <20 mm with >10 HU and without hyperintensity in T2. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that our predictive model combining tumor size and lipid content has high reliability for the prediction of PHEO when atypical adrenal lesions are excluded. However, for atypical adrenal lesions with >10 HU in an unenhanced CT scan, MRI information is necessary for a proper exclusion of the PHEO diagnosis.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Adrenal Iodine-131 6-Beta-Iodomethyl-19-Norcholesterol Scintigraphy for the Subtyping of Primary Aldosteronism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the 131I-6ß-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol (NP-59) adrenal scintigraphy for the subtyping diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA), considering as gold standard for the diagnosis of unilateral PA (UPA), either the results of the adrenal venous sampling (AVS) or the outcome after adrenalectomy. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was performed on PA patients from 14 Spanish tertiary hospitals who underwent NP-59 scintigraphy with an available subtyping diagnosis. Patients were classified as UPA if biochemical cure was achieved after adrenalectomy or/and if an AVS lateralization index > 4 with ACTH stimulation or >2 without ACTH stimulation was observed. Patients were classified as having bilateral PA (BPA) if the AVS lateralization index was ≤4 with ACTH or ≤2 without ACTH stimulation or if there was evidence of bilateral adrenal nodules >1 cm in each adrenal gland detected by CT/MRI. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients with PA were included (70.9% (n = 61) with UPA and 29.1% (n = 25) with BPA). Based on the NP-59 scintigraphy results, 16 patients showed normal suppressed adrenal gland uptake, and in the other 70 cases, PA was considered unilateral in 49 patients (70%) and bilateral in 21 (30%). Based on 59-scintigraphy results, 10.4% of the patients with unilateral uptake had BPA, and 27.3% of the cases with bilateral uptake had UPA. The AUC of the ROC curve of the NP-59 scintigraphy for PA subtyping was 0.812 [0.707-0.916]. Based on the results of the CT/MRI and NP-59 scintigraphy, only 6.7% of the patients with unilateral uptake had BPA, and 24% of the cases with bilateral uptake had UPA. The AUC of the ROC curve of the model combining CT/MRI and 59-scintigraphy results for subtyping PA was 0.869 [0.782-0.957]. CONCLUSION: The results of NP-59 scintigraphy in association with the information provided by the CT/MRI may be useful for PA subtyping. However, their diagnostic accuracy is only moderate. Therefore, it should be considered a second-line diagnostic tool when AVS is not an option.

Effect of Obesity on Clinical Characteristics of Primary Aldosteronism Patients at Diagnosis and Postsurgical Response.

CONTEXT: Patients with obesity have an overactivated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) that is associated with essential hypertension. However, the influence of obesity in primary aldosteronism (PA) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the effect of obesity on the characteristics of PA, and the association between obesity and RAAS components. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of the Spanish PA Registry (SPAIN-ALDO Registry), which included patients with PA seen at 20 tertiary centers between 2018 and 2022. Differences between patients with and without obesity were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 415 patients were included; 189 (45.5%) with obesity. Median age was 55 years (range, 47.3-65.2 years) and 240 (58.4%) were male. Compared to those without obesity, patients with obesity had higher rates of diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, obstructive apnea syndrome, left ventricular hypertrophy, prior cardiovascular events, higher means of systolic blood pressure, and required more antihypertensive drugs. Patients with PA and obesity also had higher values of serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, uric acid, and triglycerides, and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Levels of blood aldosterone (PAC) and renin were similar between patients with and without obesity. Body mass index was not correlated with PAC nor renin. The rates of adrenal lesions on imaging studies, as well as the rates of unilateral disease assessed by adrenal vein sampling or I-6ß-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol scintigraphy, were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Obesity in PA patients involves a worse cardiometabolic profile, and need for more antihypertensive drugs but similar PAC and renin levels, and rates of adrenal lesions and lateral disease than patients without obesity. However, obesity implicates a lower rate of hypertension cure after adrenalectomy.

Predictive model of hypertension resolution after adrenalectomy in primary aldosteronism: the SPAIN-ALDO score.

PURPOSE: To develop a predictive model of hypertension resolution after adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), based on their presurgical characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study of PA patients in follow-up in 20 Spanish tertiary hospitals between 2018 and 2021 was performed (SPAIN-ALDO Register). Clinical response postadrenalectomy was classified according to the primary aldosteronism surgical outcome (PASO) consensus criteria. The predictive model was developed using a multivariate logistic regression model with the estimation of all possible equations. RESULTS: A total of 146 patients (54.8% females; mean age of 51.5 ± 10.9 years) with PA who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy were included. After a mean follow-up of 29.1 ±â€Š30.43 months after surgery, hypertension cure was obtained in 37.7% ( n  = 55) of the patients. The predictive model with the highest diagnostic accuracy to predict hypertension cure combined the variables female sex, use of two or fewer antihypertensive medications, hypertension grade 1, without type 2 diabetes and nonobesity. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of this model was 0.841 [0.769-0.914]. Based on this model, the group of patients with a higher probability of cure (80.4%) were those without type 2 diabetes, BMI <30 kg/m 2 , female sex, hypertension grade 1 and who use two or fewer antihypertensives. Our predictive model offered a slightly higher diagnostic accuracy than Wachtel's (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.809), Utsumi's (AUC: 0.804) and Zarnegar's (AUC: 0.796) models and was similar than the Burello's (AUC: 0.833) model. CONCLUSION: Female sex, use of two or fewer antihypertensive medications, hypertension grade 1, no type 2 diabetes and nonobesity may predict hypertension cure after adrenalectomy in patients with PA. Our score provides a potential tool to guide preoperative patient counseling.

Adrenal venous sampling in primary aldosteronism: Experience of a Spanish multicentric study (Results from the SPAIN-ALDO Register).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) performance in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), the main reasons for its non-performance, and the success and complications rate of this procedure in Spain. Moreover, the concordance between CT/MRI and AVS for PA subtyping was evaluated. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study of PA patient follow-up in 20 Spanish tertiary hospitals between 2018-2021 was performed (SPAIN-ALDO Register). RESULTS: Of the 440 patients with PA included in the study, 153 underwent AVS (34.8%). The main reasons for not performing AVS were: patient rejection to the procedure, low catheterization rate in the center and unilateral disease based on CT/MRI. The overall success rate was 44.4% (the left adrenal vein was properly canulated in 77.8% and the right adrenal vein in 48.4%). Only 3 patients experienced minor complications. In the 45 patients with unilateral disease according to AVS, CT/MRI indicated bilateral disease or normal adrenal glands in 17. In the 23 patients with bilateral disease, CT/MRI indicated unilateral disease in 14. However, no significant differences were observed in biochemical response (P = 0.051) and hypertension resolution (P = 0.150) between patients who underwent surgery based on CT/MRI results and those who underwent surgery based on AVS results. CONCLUSION: In our setting, AVS is still an underused technique in patients with PA. The low experience and success rate in AVS partially justify these results. More training for providers and patients needs to be done to include appropriate well performed AVS in the diagnosis algorithm of PA.

Evolution of the cardiometabolic profile of primary hyperaldosteronism patients treated with adrenalectomy and with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: results from the SPAIN-ALDO Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the evolution of the cardiometabolic profile of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) after the treatment with surgery and with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA). DESIGN: Retrospective multicentric study of patients with PA on follow-up in twelve Spanish centers between 2018 and 2020. RESULTS: 268 patients with PA treated by surgery (n = 100) or with MRA (n = 168) were included. At baseline, patients treated with surgery were more commonly women (54.6% vs 41.7%, P = 0.042), had a higher prevalence of hypokalemia (72.2% vs 58%, P = 0.022) and lower prevalence of obesity (37.4% vs 51.3%, P = 0.034) than patients treated with MRA. Adrenalectomy resulted in complete biochemical cure in 94.0% and clinical response in 83.0% (complete response in 41.0% and partial response in 42.0%). After a median follow-up of 23.6 (IQR 9.7-53.8) months, the reduction in blood pressure (BP) after treatment was similar between the group of surgery and MRA, but patients surgically treated reduced the number of antihypertensive pills for BP control more than those medically treated (∆antihypertensives: -1.3 ± 1.3 vs 0.0 ± 1.4, P < 0.0001) and experienced a higher increased in serum potassium levels (∆serum potassium: 0.9 ± 0.7 vs 0.6 ± 0.8mEq/ml, P = 0.003). However, no differences in the risk of the onset of new renal and cardiometabolic comorbidities was observed between the group of surgery and MRA (HR = 0.9 [0.5-1.5], P = 0.659). CONCLUSION: In patients with PA, MRA and surgery offer a similar short-term cardiovascular protection, but surgery improves biochemical control and reduces pill burden more commonly than MRA, and lead to hypertension cure or improvement in up to 83% of the patients.

Linfomas primarios tiroideos. Experiencia en hospitales de Castilla-La Mancha / Primary thyroid lymphomas. Experience in hospitals of Castilla-La Mancha

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Control metabólico y de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en una cohorte de pacientes con diabetes mellitus. Resultados a los 4 años / Metabolic and cardiovascular risk factor control in a diabetic cohort. Four-year results

Objetivos Valorar el grado de control glucémico y del resto de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en una cohorte de pacientes diabéticos seguidos en consultas externas durante 4 años. Conocer el patrón de tratamiento utilizado y su evolución. Material y métodos Estudio de 424 pacientes diabéticos tanto tipo 1 (DM1) como tipo 2 (DM2), seleccionados aleatoriamente en 2004 y seguidos hasta 2008. La cohorte final fue de 343 pacientes. Se recogieron datos epidemiológicos, factores de riesgo cardiovascular, complicaciones crónicas, datos de control glucémico, lipídico y tensional, así como de tratamiento al inicio y a los 4 años. Resultados Tras los 4 años, el porcentaje de pacientes que conseguían una hemoglobina glicada inferior a 7% se mantuvo estable (DM1 18,5 en 2004 frente a 21,7% en 2008 y DM2 26,6 frente a 26,5%). En ambos tipos de diabetes se incrementó de forma significativa el grado de consecución de objetivos de control lipídico y tensional. Para conseguir estos resultados las pautas de tratamiento se complicaron de manera significativa. Conclusiones La estabilización del control glucémico objetivada tras 4 años de seguimiento es un resultado positivo, considerando el largo tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, el deterioro progresivo de la función pancreática y la complejidad de esta cohorte. Gracias a la optimización de los tratamientos utilizados, han mejorado de forma significativa el control tensional y lipídico del grupo estudiado(AU)

Objectives To assess control of blood glucose and other cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic patients monitored at an outpatient endocrinology clinic. To ascertain treatment used and its changes over time. Patients and methods A cohort of 424 randomly selected diabetic patients (both type 1 and type 2) was monitored from 2004 to 2008. Final cohort size was 343 patients. Data were collected about epidemiological characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, chronic complications, glycemic, lipid and blood pressure control, and treatment at baseline and 4 years. Results After 4 years, the proportion of patients achieving glycosylated hemoglobin levels less than 7% remained stable (type 1: 18.5% in 2004 vs 21.7% in 2008, type 2: 26.6% vs 26.5%). The degree of achievement of lipid and blood pressure (BP) control levels increased in both groups. The complexity of treatment schemes used to achieve these results significantly increased. Conclusions Stabilization of glycemic control after 4 years of follow-up was a positive result, considering the long course of diabetes, progressive pancreatic function impairment, and complexity of our cohort. Treatment optimization significantly improved BP and lipid control in the study group(AU)

Metabolic and cardiovascular risk factor control in a diabetic cohort. Four-year results.

OBJECTIVES: To assess control of blood glucose and other cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic patients monitored at an outpatient endocrinology clinic. To ascertain treatment used and its changes over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 424 randomly selected diabetic patients (both type 1 and type 2) was monitored from 2004 to 2008. Final cohort size was 343 patients. Data were collected about epidemiological characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, chronic complications, glycemic, lipid and blood pressure control, and treatment at baseline and 4 years. RESULTS: After 4 years, the proportion of patients achieving glycosylated hemoglobin levels less than 7% remained stable (type 1: 18.5% in 2004 vs 21.7% in 2008, type 2: 26.6% vs 26.5%). The degree of achievement of lipid and blood pressure (BP) control levels increased in both groups. The complexity of treatment schemes used to achieve these results significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Stabilization of glycemic control after 4 years of follow-up was a positive result, considering the long course of diabetes, progressive pancreatic function impairment, and complexity of our cohort. Treatment optimization significantly improved BP and lipid control in the study group.

Carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides: supervivencia y factores relacionados / Differentiated thyroid carcinoma: survival and prognostic factors

Antecedentes y objetivo El cáncer diferenciado de tiroides (CDT) es el tumor endocrino más frecuente, con buen pronóstico y supervivencias superiores al 85%. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo es conocer la supervivencia actual de nuestra serie de CDT y analizar los factores relacionados. Pacientes y métodos Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes con CDT (n: 308), 93,5% eran papilares, el 78,2% eran mujeres con una edad media al diagnóstico de 45,4±15,8 años y un tiempo de seguimiento de 8,9 ± 6,8 años. Han sido tratados y seguidos de forma homogénea en nuestro centro hospitalario. Para cada paciente se ha recogido edad al diagnóstico, sexo, histología, estadio TNM, tratamientos empleados y fecha y causa de la muerte. La probabilidad de supervivencia fue calculada por el método de Kaplan Meier. Para analizar los factores relacionados con la supervivencia se realizó un análisis univariante (Log Rank test) y multivariante (Riesgos proporcionales de Cox).Resultados Se produjeron 26 casos de muerte, de ellos 15 pacientes (4,9%) murieron como consecuencia del CDT. La probabilidad de supervivencia acumulada del grupo total fue del 92,7%. En el análisis multivariante las variables asociadas de forma independiente con mortalidad por CDT fueron: metástasis a distancia, tipo histológico folicular, edad al diagnóstico más de 60 años y afectación extratiroidea. Discusión La probabilidad de supervivencia de nuestra serie es equiparable a la de la literatura. El conocimiento de los factores relacionados con peor supervivencia en el medio que trabajamos, es importante para establecer estrategias más activas de tratamiento en pacientes de alto riesgo (AU)

Background and aims Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most common endocrine tumor. DTC has a good prognosis and survival rates higher than 85%. The aim of our study was to assess our current survival rate and to analyze prognostic factors. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of 308 patients with DTC (93.5% with papillary tumors, 78.8% women). Mean age at diagnosis was 45.4±15.8years, and mean follow-up time was 8.9±6.8 years. The whole group was treated and followed up using the same protocol at our hospital. The following data were collected: age at diagnosis, sex, histology, TNM stage, treatments, and date and cause of death. Survival probability was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Prognostic factors were analyzed using a univariate log rank test and a multivariate Cox regression analysis model. Results Twenty-six patients died during follow-up, 15 of them (4.9%) from DTC. Thyroid carcinoma-related survival was 92.7% for the whole group. In multivariate analyses, the following parameters were associated to a significantly increased risk of death from DTC: presence of distant metastases, follicular histology, age at diagnosis older than 60 years, and extrathyroid invasion. Discussion Our survival rate is similar to that reported in literature. Assessment of prognostic factors related to an increased risk of death in our patient group, is essential to establish active therapeutic approaches in high risk patients (AU)

[Services portfolio of a department of endocrinology and clinical nutrition]. / Cartera de Servicios de Endocrinología y Nutrición.

Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition are branches of Medicine that deal with the study of physiology of body glands and hormones and their disorders, intermediate metabolism of nutrients, enteral and parenteral nutrition, promotion of health by prevention of diet-related diseases, and appropriate use of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive tools related to these disciplines. Development of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition support services requires accurate definition and management of a number of complex resources, both human and material, as well as adequate planning of the care provided. It is therefore essential to know the services portfolio of an ideal Department of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition because this is a useful, valid and necessary tool to optimize the available resources, to increase efficiency, and to improve the quality of care.

[Differentiated thyroid carcinoma: survival and prognostic factors]. / Carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides: supervivencia y factores relacionados.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most common endocrine tumor. DTC has a good prognosis and survival rates higher than 85%. The aim of our study was to assess our current survival rate and to analyze prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 308 patients with DTC (93.5% with papillary tumors, 78.8% women). Mean age at diagnosis was 45.4±15.8years, and mean follow-up time was 8.9±6.8years. The whole group was treated and followed up using the same protocol at our hospital. The following data were collected: age at diagnosis, sex, histology, TNM stage, treatments, and date and cause of death. Survival probability was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Prognostic factors were analyzed using a univariate log rank test and a multivariate Cox regression analysis model. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients died during follow-up, 15 of them (4.9%) from DTC. Thyroid carcinoma-related survival was 92.7% for the whole group. In multivariate analyses, the following parameters were associated to a significantly increased risk of death from DTC: presence of distant metastases, follicular histology, age at diagnosis older than 60years, and extrathyroid invasion. DISCUSSION: Our survival rate is similar to that reported in literature. Assessment of prognostic factors related to an increased risk of death in our patient group, is essential to establish active therapeutic approaches in high risk patients.

Cartera de Servicios de Endocrinología y Nutrición / Services portfolio of a department of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition

La Endocrinología y Nutrición es la rama de la Medicina que se ocupa del estudio de la fisiología y patología del sistema endocrino, del metabolismo de las sustancias nutritivas, de la nutrición natural y artificial, de la promoción de la salud mediante la prevención de las enfermedades relacionadas con la dieta y de las correspondientes técnicas diagnósticas, terapéuticas y preventivas utilizadas en estas áreas del conocimiento médico. El desarrollo de estas actividades requiere la definición y la gestión de una serie de recursos complejos, tanto humanos como materiales, así como una correcta planificación del trabajo asistencial. Por lo tanto, resulta imprescindible conocer la Cartera de Servicios de un Servicio/Sección o Departamento de Endocrinología y Nutrición, ya que es una herramienta necesaria, válida y útil para optimizar los recursos disponibles, aumentar la eficacia y la rentabilidad de la actuación médica y mejorar la calidad de la asistencia (AU)

Abstract Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition are branches of Medicine that deal with thestudy of physiology of body glands and hormones and their disorders, intermediate metabolism of nutrients, enteral and parenteral nutrition, promotion of health by prevention of diet-relateddiseases, and appropriate use of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive tools related tothese disciplines. Development of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition support services requiresaccurate definition and management of a number of complex resources, both human and material, as well as adequate planning of the care provided. It is therefore essential to know theservices portfolio of an ideal Department of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition because thisis a useful, valid and necessary tool to optimize the available resources, to increase efficiency,and to improve the quality of care (AU)

Control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular y utilización de antiagregación plaquetaria en pacientes con diabetes mellitus / Cardiovascular risk factors control and antiplatelet agents utilization in diabetic patients

Objetivo: Valorar el grado de control glucémico, lipídico y de presión arterial (PA), así como el porcentaje de antiagregación plaquetaria, en pacientes diabéticos asistidos en una consulta de atención especializada. Pacientes y método: Estudio transversal de una cohorte de 424 pacientes vistos en 2 meses de 2004. Se recogieron datos sobre glucohemoglobina (HbA1c), perfil lipídico, PA, antecedentes de microangiopatía y macroangiopatía y tratamientos utilizados. En 296 pacientes se analizaron retrospectivamente los resultados del año 2000. Resultados: En 2004, la HbA1c media fue de 7,8 ± 1,2% (en el 25% de los pacientes era < 7%), la media de colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad (cLDL) fueron 104,2 ± 28,7 mg/dl (el 43,4% tenían cLDL < 100 mg/dl) y las PA sistólica y diastólica media fueron 135,3 ± 17,6 y 76,3 ± 10,2 mmHg (el 45,5% tenía PA sistólica < 130 mmHg y el 78,5%, PA diastólica < 80 mmHg). Se produjo una mejoría significativa en todos los parámetros investigados respecto al 2000 (HbA1c, 8,5% ± 1,3%; cLDL, 128,2 ± 28,5 mg/dl; PA sistólica y diastólica media, 140,2 ± 17,9 y 77,9 ± 12,1 mmHg). El 38% de los pacientes (el 84% en prevención secundaria y el 26% en prevención primaria) utilizaban antiagregación plaquetaria, frente a un 17% en el año 2000. Conclusiones: Aunque se ha producido una importante mejora en el control de los factores de riesgo vascular, gracias al abordaje integral de los pacientes, todavía el grado de control de nuestros diabéticos es insuficiente. Hemos evidenciado una mejora en el uso de antiagregación plaquetaria, aunque su utilización es poco frecuente, sobre todo en prevención primaria (AU)

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the degree of metabolic control in terms of blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure (BP) and to assess antiplatelet agents use among diabetic patients recruited in an endocrinologist clinic. Patients and method: We performed a cross-sectional study of a cohort of 424 outpatients visited in 2004. Data on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, BP, micro and macrovascular complications and current treatments were obtained. In a subgroup of 296 patients we analyzed retrospectively the same variables in 2000. Results: In 2004, mean HbA1c was 7.8% ± 1.2% (only 25% of the cohort had < 7%), mean LDLc levels were 104.2 ± 28.7 mg/dl (43.4% of subjects had LDLc < 100 mg/dl). Systolic and diastolic BP levels were 135.3 ± 17.6 and 76.3 ± 10.2 mmHg (45.5% of subjects had systolic BP < 130 and 78.5% diastolic BP < 80). There was a significant improvement of metabolic results since 2000 (HbA1c 8.5 ± 1.3%, LDLc 128.2 ± 28.5 mg/dl, median systolic y diastolic BP 140.2 ± 17.9 and 77.9 ± 12.1 mmHg). Antiplatelet agents use increased from 17% in 2000 to 38% in 2004 (84% as secondary prevention and 26% as primary prevention). Conclusions: Although we have obtained an important improvement in cardiovascular risk factors control, probably due to a multifactorial intervention treatment, overall metabolic and BP control remain unsatisfactory. Antiplatelet agents use has increased but continues to be low in primary prevention (AU)