The disruption of the function of the endocrine glands, in general, presents symptoms and affects all the organs of the patient, which is why patients must refer to almost all medical specialties.
Knowledge is primarily needed, but also a high index of suspicion, to diagnose diseases of the endocrine glands in time because, in the majority of them, they are treatable and mainly curable.
Diseases of the Thyroid Gland - Parathyroid Glands
They refer to the most well-known and frequent health problems, with manifestations of symptoms in all organs, which, however, if diagnosed in time, are treatable. We must know that the disorder of thyroid function (hyperthyroidism - hypothyroidism) causes manifestations throughout the body, such as cardiovascular, significant weight loss in hyperthyroidism, intense fatigue and malaise in any disorder of its function, up to disorders in women concerning their cycle and pregnancy.
The control of the thyroid function must become a routine control in certain periods of our life, especially in the newborn, adolescence, pregnancy, and age after 50 years.
The problems related to the disorder of the thyroid structure rarely manifest symptoms, which is why they go unnoticed and undiagnosed for a long time. At regular intervals, it is useful for the attending physician to palpate the thyroid area or perform a thyroid ultrasound.
Parathyroid hyperfunction is the most common and the most problematic. Some of the problems that will raise the suspicion of hyperparathyroidism (parathyroid adenoma) are:
• Nephrolithiasis
• Osteoporosis
• Hypertension
• Fatigue, muscle weakness, bone and muscle pain
We should not start treatment for osteoporosis, especially when it occurs at a young age and is severe, before measuring parathyroid hormone, serum calcium and vitamin D.
Adrenal glands
In normal operation, the adrenal glands secrete important hormones necessary for life and the proper functioning of our body. I will refer epigrammatically to the important ones connected with diseases with generalised manifestations.
Adrenal masses (adenomas), mostly benign, which may be functional, i.e. secrete hormones, or non-functional, are also often found on random radiological examination.
Disorders of function include hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome and hypofunction, Addison's disease). These disorders concern the secretion of cortisol (an important and necessary hormone for proper functioning).
In the case of Cushing's syndrome, we will have a picture that clinically and laboratory likely resembles the Metabolic syndrome (central obesity, facial redness, possible hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus).
In adrenal insufficiency, emaciation, weight loss, gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension and gradual overload of the skin and conjunctivae, like a gunpowder-smoked image, are characteristic.
Measurement of cortisol and electrolytes under the guidance of the attending physician will establish the diagnosis.
Adrenal adenomas are often an incidental finding on abdominal ultrasound. Most of the time, they are inactively small in size and rarely malignant. However, each finding should be checked with the guidance of the attending physician.
I emphasise that a small percentage of the etiology of hypertension when it occurs in humans, is due to Endocrine Disease.
That is why, together with the cardiological and nephrological control, we should also check the hormones (cortisol, aldosterone), as well as factors that may be secreted by adrenal adenomas (metanephrines and urinary VMA), which may be the cause of hypertension always with the guidance of the attending physician.
It is worth bearing in mind that hypertension is a prevalent disease, which, apart from the adrenal glands, can be due to a disorder of thyroid function, as well as Hyperparathyroidism.
Venetsana E. Kyriazopoulou is an Endocrinologist-Diabetologist, Director of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Department of HYGEIA Group
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This post was last modified on February 23, 2024 6:30 pm