Endocrinology
Physician discussions on diabetes management, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, and metabolic conditions.
Recent Discussions
In adults ≥80 years with TSH 6–10 mIU/L and minimal symptoms, do you initiate levothyroxine, monitor, or avoid treatment entirely?
I tend to check free T4 in this situation. Aging is associated with some elevation in TSH value up to 10 mIU/L with normal free T4, and in those patients, levothyroxine is not needed. In some patients, I have seen it rise above 10 with normal free T4. Supplementing levothyroxine to lower serum TSH w...
When do you consider changing a patient's levothyroxine dose during hospitalization due to abnormal TFTs, but without clinical evidence of thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism?
Thank you for your question. I think this is something we commonly get in the hospital, and we often overreact to it. This was a "Things We Do For No Reason" some time back, and I think they outline the issues well.When people are acutely ill, TSH testing is unreliable. The times when TSH testing is...
How will the newer JCEM guidelines on primary aldosteronism (PA) impact your management and screening of PA?
I believe you are going to see more screening for PA and more assistance needed by healthcare providers on how to interpret the results. I also believe that perhaps this may lead to more use of steroidal MRA, which is a great thing for many patients having trouble with control of low-renin HTN.
Do you get DEXA scans routinely before starting ADT for prostate cancer or endocrine therapy for breast cancer?
When initiating long-term ADT, I order a DEXA scan, check vitamin D level, ensure adequate dietary calcium intake, and discuss weight-bearing exercise/refer to PT when appropriate. I also continue check DEXAs every 2 years unless they otherwise meet criteria for a bone-modifying agent (mCRPC with bo...
What are the indications, if any, for trending ACTH and cortisol levels in patients with adrenal insufficiency on steroid replacement therapy?
We don't usually monitor ACTH or cortisol levels for patients on steroid replacement. We follow blood pressure, electrolytes (if primary) and clinical symptoms.
How do you approach checking an aldosterone to renin ratio in an outpatient with hypertension and hypokalemia that is difficult to correct with oral potassium replacement?
It is well known that hypokalemia can affect the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR). Since hypokalemia directly inhibits aldosterone production, this can lead to false negative results when using ARR to screen for primary aldosteronism. If it is difficult to correct hypokalemia with oral potassium repla...
Should low-intensity statins be favored to minimize the risk of diabetes onset while still offering cardiovascular benefit for patients with prediabetes where a statin is indicated?
While higher-intensity statins are associated with a slightly higher incidence of diabetes, it would not be recommended to start with low-intensity statins as there are no data to support this. Essentially, all of the CV outcomes trials with statins have been with moderate and high-intensity statins...
What is the preferred osteoporosis therapy after completing teriparatide in a young woman planning pregnancy within the next year?
It would be helpful to know the T-scores of the spine and femoral neck. I also like to have the bone remodeling markers. My recommendation would be adequate calcium intake of 1000 mg daily, preferably from diet, and 4000 IUs of vitamin D daily, not only to help preserve bone health, but vitamin D al...
Do you plan to initiate combination therapy with an SGLT-2 inhibitor and finerenone, instead of an SGLT-2 inhibitor alone, when treating patients with proteinuric chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes in light of the CONFIDENCE trial findings?
I would start one (typically the SGLT-2 inhibitor), then add finerenone potentially later. If both are started simultaneously and there is an AE, then both may have to be stopped. I prefer to see that one is tolerated, then start another.
Do you foresee any added benefit of triple agonist therapy (GLP-1, GIP and glucagon) for glycemic control in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus?
There are a number of triple agonists under development. Furthest along is retatrutide with average weight loss approaching 30% in the setting of obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists have definitively demonstrated weight loss benefits in people living with type 1 diabetes. Glycemic benefits have emerged...