Endocrinology
Physician discussions on diabetes management, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic conditions.
Recent Discussions
Is history of radiation therapy for uterine cancer an absolute contraindication to parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone related protein analogues such as teriparatide and abaloparatide in a patient with severe osteoporosis with multiple spine fractures?
I agree with Dr. @Dr. First Last. The initial studies in young rats given high doses of PTH compounds for most of their lifespan (I think until either 24 or 36 months of age) resulted in a higher-than-expected number of incident osteosarcomas. However, the black box warning about skeletal radiation ...
Do you treat secondary erythrocytosis caused by SGLT2 inhibitor?
I have seen this once, and stopped the SGLT2 inhibitor, and recommended they identify an alternative strategy to treat his DM. It seemed to help overall.
Where do you place romosozumab in your treatment sequence for osteoporosis management?
I agree. It is very effective as first-line therapy in patients at high risk for fracture. It can also be useful post bisphosphonate therapy. I have used it successfully multiple times to transition patients from long-term Prolia therapy without loss of bone mass.
Do you treat low 25-OH vitamin D levels in those with end stage kidney disease?
Low 25-OH vitamin D levels in those with end-stage kidney disease should absolutely be treated. The assumption that calcitriol administration satisfies all the vitamin D needs of the body is incorrect. While it is true regarding the endocrine effects of calcitriol (calcium and phosphate homeostasis)...
What is your approach to using bisphosphonates in those with severe hypercalcemia and chronic kidney disease?
Epocrates says for pamidronate under renal dosing "severe impairment avoid use". I have used it many times but at a reduced dose, 30 mg IV once, and wait, takes a few days to kick in. Maybe once I used 60 mg. Use at your own discretion, as it is not advised as above. I avoid zoledronic acid (even th...
What is your approach to managing hypocalcemia following a parathyroidectomy in patients with end stage kidney disease?
The hungry bone syndrome can be tricky and insidious. I have seen patients go home after a pth-ectomy without evidence of it and then a few days later show up in the ED with symptoms of hypocalcemia. Hemodialysis may mask it (as well as treat it) by supplying a large IV calcium load. If you dialyze ...
What is your daily correction goal for those patients being treated for hypernatremia?
There is no correction per se. Although, older guidelines recommend a correction of no more than 8-10 mEq/dL in 24 hours. The theoretical risk of correcting hypernatremia too fast is the development of cerebral edema. However, a recent study (Chauhan et al., PMID 30948456) showed no evidence of cere...
For a patient who would benefit from an anabolic agent for osteoporosis, do you prefer romosuzumab over teriparatide in the absence of contraindications to either agent?
Both teriparatide and romozosumab are excellent drugs to treat osteoporosis with documented risk reduction in fractures. TPTD reduces spine fracture about 85% and romozosumab about 75%. Both are excellent. They have very different biologies with TPTD being a remodeling-based anabolic and romozosumab...
What treatment would you use in a patient with osteoporosis on denosumab for 10 years who develops ONJ at a site of an old implant?
A bone formative agent as teriparatide.
When do you consider stopping denosumab when a patient with osteoporosis is otherwise tolerating it without issues?
This is a matter of "style" more than anything. I continue Prolia and have many patients now exceeding 10 years - up to12 years, without any apparent safety issues. I realize we are in a "data-free" zone after 10 years, but as rheumatologists, we are frequently giving monoclonal antibodies for perio...