Endocrine Diseases Grand Rounds
As part of learning about endocrine diseases, we did Grand Rounds with our table groups. My group was assigned Type 1 Diabetes.
Group 2 has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The symptoms they described were fatigue, extreme hunger, weight loss, infections, slow wound healing, and blurry vision. They also said that the symptoms were not felt by anyone else in their families and they have no family history of a disease like the one they felt. Each of these symptoms are common among Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but since there is no family history, it is more likely to be Type 2. When a person has Type 2 Diabetes, the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas to allow your body to use glucose from carbohydrates in your body for energy or storage, is inefficiently absorbed by the cells in muscles, liver, and fat tissue. Glucose is also not regulated well enough, which results in cells not getting enough energy and causing symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss.
Based on Group 3’s symptoms, we claim they have Cushing’s Syndrome. A few of their symptoms were increased fat around the neck and around the stomach, slower growth, obesity, thin arms and legs, and elevated blood pressure. The patients also explained that there is no family history of having some of the symptoms, but that obesity is common in a few parts of the family. The fatigue, bone pain, and anxiety are recently occurring symptoms, but the things associated with weight are not. The endocrine disease is caused as a result of excess production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Cortisol production is under the control of the pituitary and overproduction can be caused by a tumor. When the adrenal glands develop a tumor, there are excess amounts of the hormone and cortisol tests determine the state of the tumor.
Based off group 4’s symptoms, we believe they have Graves Disease. They described symptoms such as weight loss, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia (sleep loss), and vision problems. Graves disease results from the person’s thyroid overproducing thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones control metabolism and an overabundance of thyroid hormones puts the body’s metabolism into overdrive, which results in symptoms such as weight loss and restlessness. Graves disease is easily treated with medications. Most people with the disease go into remission after a few months of starting treatment.
Group 5 had symptoms similar to hypoparathyroidism. They described symptoms such as constant fatigue, weight gain, coarse/dry hair, muscle cramps, and constipation. Hypoparathyroidism is caused by a diminished concentration of parathyroid hormone in the blood, which causes deficiencies of calcium and phosphorus compounds in the blood and results in muscular spasms. Treatment for hypoparathyroidism consists of taking supplements to normalize your calcium and phosphorus levels. Depending on the cause of your hypoparathyroidism, you'll likely need to take supplements for life.
The person from group 6 has been diagnosed with Acromegaly. Their symptoms were described as the sense that their hand and feet are growing, thick lips, enlarged nose (particularly a wider nose bridge), protruding jaw, protruding brow, and spaced-out teeth (as the jaw grows, gaps may form between the teeth). Some other symptoms may be headache, vision changes, joint pain, and hypertension. These are caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland that causes excess growth hormone to be released.
The person from group 7 has been diagnosed with turner syndrome. Their symptoms were described as short stature, mouth and jaw abnormalities (high-arched roof of mouth, crowded teeth, and a receding lower jaw), broad chest, droopy eyes, low-set ears, webbed neck (extra skin around the neck), low hairline (hair extends down back of the neck toward the shoulders), fingernails and toenails that point slightly upward, swollen hands and feet (usually present only at birth), and increased angulation at the elbow. This is caused by a defect in one X chromosome. The missing parts of the chromosome have a lot of information that would be used, such as determining height and bone density.
Group 2 has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The symptoms they described were fatigue, extreme hunger, weight loss, infections, slow wound healing, and blurry vision. They also said that the symptoms were not felt by anyone else in their families and they have no family history of a disease like the one they felt. Each of these symptoms are common among Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but since there is no family history, it is more likely to be Type 2. When a person has Type 2 Diabetes, the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas to allow your body to use glucose from carbohydrates in your body for energy or storage, is inefficiently absorbed by the cells in muscles, liver, and fat tissue. Glucose is also not regulated well enough, which results in cells not getting enough energy and causing symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss.
Based on Group 3’s symptoms, we claim they have Cushing’s Syndrome. A few of their symptoms were increased fat around the neck and around the stomach, slower growth, obesity, thin arms and legs, and elevated blood pressure. The patients also explained that there is no family history of having some of the symptoms, but that obesity is common in a few parts of the family. The fatigue, bone pain, and anxiety are recently occurring symptoms, but the things associated with weight are not. The endocrine disease is caused as a result of excess production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Cortisol production is under the control of the pituitary and overproduction can be caused by a tumor. When the adrenal glands develop a tumor, there are excess amounts of the hormone and cortisol tests determine the state of the tumor.
Based off group 4’s symptoms, we believe they have Graves Disease. They described symptoms such as weight loss, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia (sleep loss), and vision problems. Graves disease results from the person’s thyroid overproducing thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones control metabolism and an overabundance of thyroid hormones puts the body’s metabolism into overdrive, which results in symptoms such as weight loss and restlessness. Graves disease is easily treated with medications. Most people with the disease go into remission after a few months of starting treatment.
Group 5 had symptoms similar to hypoparathyroidism. They described symptoms such as constant fatigue, weight gain, coarse/dry hair, muscle cramps, and constipation. Hypoparathyroidism is caused by a diminished concentration of parathyroid hormone in the blood, which causes deficiencies of calcium and phosphorus compounds in the blood and results in muscular spasms. Treatment for hypoparathyroidism consists of taking supplements to normalize your calcium and phosphorus levels. Depending on the cause of your hypoparathyroidism, you'll likely need to take supplements for life.
The person from group 6 has been diagnosed with Acromegaly. Their symptoms were described as the sense that their hand and feet are growing, thick lips, enlarged nose (particularly a wider nose bridge), protruding jaw, protruding brow, and spaced-out teeth (as the jaw grows, gaps may form between the teeth). Some other symptoms may be headache, vision changes, joint pain, and hypertension. These are caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland that causes excess growth hormone to be released.
The person from group 7 has been diagnosed with turner syndrome. Their symptoms were described as short stature, mouth and jaw abnormalities (high-arched roof of mouth, crowded teeth, and a receding lower jaw), broad chest, droopy eyes, low-set ears, webbed neck (extra skin around the neck), low hairline (hair extends down back of the neck toward the shoulders), fingernails and toenails that point slightly upward, swollen hands and feet (usually present only at birth), and increased angulation at the elbow. This is caused by a defect in one X chromosome. The missing parts of the chromosome have a lot of information that would be used, such as determining height and bone density.