ENDOCRINOLOGIE/DIABETOLOGIE

CENTRUM ENDOCRINOLOGIE/DIABETOLOGIE

ARTIKELS

ABSTRACT 1

Primaire hyperparathyreoïdie, zich presenterend als hyperemesis gravidarum.

Deconinck M, Denys B, Myngheer N Gunaïkeia, 2020, 25 (5), 18-20

INTRODUCTION Primaire hyperparathyreoïdie (PHPT) is een bekende oorzaak van hypercalciëmie en heeft in de algemene bevolking een prevalentie van ongeveer 0,1%, toenemend met de leeftijd. Exacte data over prevalentie van PHPT tijdens de zwangerschap bestaan er niet. Dit komt enerzijds omdat hiervoor tijdens de zwangerschap niet gescreend wordt en anderzijds omdat PHPT vaak asymptomatisch verloopt. Eventuele symptomen kunnen bovendien gemaskeerd worden door veelvoorkomende zwangerschaps kwalen. Screenen voor PHPT is echter re- latief eenvoudig door middel van bepaling van de calciëmie. We beschrijven hier een geval van primaire hyperparathyreoïdie die zich uitte als hyperemesis gravidarum in de vroege zwangerschap.

MATERIALS/METHODS Beschrijving klinische casus.

CONCLUSION Primaire hyperparathyreoïdie is zeldzaam tijdens de zwangerschap. Hypercalciëmie is geassocieerd met belangrijke complicaties bij zowel moeder als foetus, waardoor een tijdige diagnose en behandeling wenselijk is. Calciëmiebepaling dient bijgevolg deel uit te maken van de diagnostische uitwerking bij patiënten met aanhoudende of recidiverende episodes van hyperemesis gravidarum . Parathyreoïdectomie is bij ernstige hypercalciëmie de meest aangewezen behandeling en kan vanaf het tweede trimester veilig worden uitgevoerd.

ABSTRACT 2

Mobile-based lifestyle intervention in women with glucose intolerance after gestational diabetes mellitus (MELINDA), a multicenter randomized controlled trial: methodology and design.

Minschart C, Maes T, De Block C, Myngheer N, et al. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020, 9(8), 2635 ABSTRACT The aims of the ‘Mobile-based lifestyle intervention in women with glucose intolerance after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)’ study (MELINDA) are: (1) to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of glucose intolerance after a recent history of GDM; and (2) to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a telephone- and mobile-based lifestyle intervention in women with glucose intolerance after GDM. This is a Belgian multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) in seven hospitals with the aim of recruiting 236 women.

Women in the intervention group will receive a blended program, based on one face-to-face education session and further follow-up through a mobile application and monthly telephone advice. Women in the control group will receive follow-up as in normal routine with referral to primary care. Participants will receive an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) one year after baseline. Primary endpoint is the frequency of weight goal achievement (≥5% weight loss if pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 25 Kg/m2 or return to pre-gravid weight if BMI < 25 Kg/m2). At each visit blood samples are collected, anthropometric measurements are obtained, and self-administered questionnaires are completed. Recruitment began in May 2019.

ABSTRACT 3

Characterisation of testicular function and spermatogenesis in transgender women.

Vereecke G, Defreyne J, Van Saen D, et al. Human Reproduction, Volume 36, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 5–15, DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa254

STUDY QUESTION Does gender-affirming treatment prevent full spermatogenesis in transgender women (TW)?

SUMMARY ANSWER Adequate hormonal therapy (HT) leads to complete suppression of spermatogenesis in most TW, if serum testosterone levels within female reference ranges are obtained.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Gender-affirming treatment in transgender individuals may involve gender-affirming HT. The effects on spermatogenesis in TW remain unclear. In order to add information from a referral centre for transgender care, we wish to compare results of earlier studies with our population of TW who received a standard hormone treatment.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a prospective cohort study part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI), conducted between 15 February 2010 and 30 September 2015. There were 162 TW were included in the ENIGI study at the Ghent University Hospital in Belgium. Participants are included in ENIGI when they first start HT, and follow-up visits occur over the next 3 years.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING METHODS The study included 97 TW who initiated HT with cyproterone acetate (CPA) plus oestrogens and proceeded with gonadectomy at the Ghent University Hospital. Testicular tissue retrieved during gonadectomy was processed and stained for four different germ cell markers by the Biology of the Testis lab at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Subsequent immunohistochemical staining was performed for melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4, marker for spermatogonia and early spermatocytes), boule homologue, RNA-binding protein (BOLL, marker for secondary spermatocytes and round spermatids), cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM, marker for round spermatids) and acrosin (marker for acrosome visualization). Serum levels of sex steroids were measured prior to surgery.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Suppressed testosterone levels (<50 ng/dl) were found in 92% of the participants prior to surgery. The mean time between initiation of HT and surgery was 685 days. In 88% (85/97) of the sections, MAGE-A4 staining was positive. Further staining could not reveal complete spermatogenesis in any participant.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Testicular function of the participants prior to initiation of HT was not assessed, although all participants presented with cisgender male serum testosterone values before initiation of HT. The current study only reports on people using CPA at a fixed dose and may therefore not be applicable to all TW.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS HT leads to complete suppression of spermatogenesis in most TW, if serum testosterone levels within female reference ranges are obtained. Serum testosterone levels are associated with the sperm maturation rate. It is important to discuss sperm preservation before the start of hormone therapy. If serum testosterone levels remain higher, spermatogenesis may still occur. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) D.V.S. is a post-doctoral fellow of the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO; 12M2819N). Processing of the testis specimens was funded by the Biology of The Testes (BITE) research group (Department of Reproduction, Genetics and Regenerative medicine at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)). There are no competing interests.