Endocrinology and Metabolism Practice Flashcards

These flashcards provide vocabulary and key diagnostic criteria based on the endocrine lecture notes covering pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and diabetic disorders.

Acromegaly

A metabolic disorder arising from chronic growth hormone overproduction in adults, typically due to a pituitary tumor, causing physical changes like soft tissue thickening and enlarged hands and feet.

Gigantism

A condition caused by excessive growth hormone secretion that occurs during childhood or adolescence before the closure of growth plates, resulting in abnormal linear height.

Whipple's Triad

A clinical framework for diagnosing hypoglycemia consisting of low blood glucose levels, typical physical symptoms, and the disappearance of those symptoms once the sugar level is raised.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

A serious diabetic emergency characterized by high blood sugar ($>250\,mg/dL$), the presence of ketones, and metabolic acidosis with a $pH < 7.3$ or bicarbonate levels $< 15\,mEq/L$.

Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS)

A dangerous diabetic complication often seen in Type 2 DM, defined by extreme hyperglycemia ($>600\,mg/dL$) and high serum osmolality ($> 320\,mOsm/kg$) without significant ketosis.

Primary Hypothyroidism

A condition where thyroid hormone production is reduced due to a defect within the thyroid gland itself, resulting in elevated TSH and low free $T_4$ levels.

Myxedema

A clinical finding in severe hypothyroidism characterized by non-pitting edema and a puffy appearance due to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the tissues.

Hashimoto Thyroiditis

The most frequent cause of primary hypothyroidism in iodine-rich areas, involving an autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland signaled by anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.

Cretinism

Congenital hypothyroidism that leads to irreversible neurological and developmental impairment if not identified and treated early in infancy.

Graves' Disease

An autoimmune form of hyperthyroidism characterized by the presence of TSH receptor antibodies, often presenting with a diffuse goiter and specific eye signs like proptosis.

Cushing's Disease

A specific subtype of Cushing's syndrome caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor that leads to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and chronic glucocorticoid excess.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

An uncommon disorder characterized by the passage of massive amounts of dilute urine and intense thirst due to either a deficiency in or resistance to antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

Primary Hyperparathyroidism

The autonomous overproduction of parathyroid hormone, usually by a single adenoma, which results in elevated serum calcium and decreased phosphate levels.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP)

A hereditary condition caused by end-organ resistance to parathyroid hormone due to mutations in the $GNAS$ gene, presenting with symptoms of hormone deficiency despite high PTH levels.

Diabetic Nephropathy

A chronic microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the kidneys, which progresses from glomerular hyperfiltration and microalbuminuria to eventual kidney failure.

Kimmelstiel–Wilson Lesions

Specific nodular formations in the renal glomeruli that are the pathognomonic hallmark of diabetic nephropathy.

Distal Symmetric Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy

The most prevalent form of diabetic nerve damage, typically occurring in a "glove and stocking" distribution and leading to loss of sensation and vibration sense.

Water Deprivation Test

A diagnostic evaluation used to distinguish between diabetes insipidus and primary polydipsia by restricting fluid intake and measuring changes in urine and plasma osmolality.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

A variant of autoimmune diabetes diagnosed in adults that often mimics Type 2 DM initially but requires insulin therapy more rapidly as beta-cell function declines.

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)

A group of monogenic forms of diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance, typically presenting in non-obese individuals under the age of $25\,years$.

Hypoglycemia Unawareness

A condition in long-standing diabetes where the typical warning signs of low blood sugar, such as sweating and tremors, are absent due to autonomic neuropathy.

Trousseau's Sign

A clinical indicator of latent tetany in hypocalcemia, elicited by a carpal spasm when a blood pressure cuff is inflated above systolic levels for two minutes.

Chvostek's Sign

A positive finding for hypocalcemia where tapping the facial nerve anterior to the ear triggers twitching of the facial muscles.

Secondary (Central) Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism resulting from a failure of the pituitary gland to secrete TSH or the hypothalamus to secrete TRH, rather than a primary defect in the thyroid.

Myxedema Coma

The terminal stage of long-standing, severe hypothyroidism, presenting with altered mental status, low body temperature, and bradycardia.

Hypercalciuria

An excess of calcium in the urine ($>300\,mg/24\,hours$), which can occur in primary hyperparathyroidism or as a complication during the treatment of hypoparathyroidism.

Apathetic Thyrotoxicosis

A form of hyperthyroidism seen in elderly patients where typical hyperkinetic symptoms are absent, and the patient instead appears depressed, apathetic, or presents with heart failure.

Albright's Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO)

A physical phenotype involving short stature, a round face, and shortened metacarpals, often associated with Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia.

Microalbuminuria

A clinical marker for early diabetic nephropathy defined by persistent urinary albumin excretion at levels of $20\,\text{--}\,300\,mg/day$.

Goiter

A general term for the enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can be simple, endemic, or toxic depending on the underlying etiology.