SGLT2 Inhibitors Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic progressive disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It results from multiple defects that lead to defective regulation of the blood glucose and requires continuous medical care with multifactorial risk-reduction strategies beyond glycemic control. Multiple groups of drugs have been approved in the past decades that work through different mechanisms. Apart from their limited efficacy in reducing cardiovascular outcome, most of them are neutral, and some may even increase mortality from CVDs such as rosiglitazone. The kidney has an important role in glucose regulation that was only recently targeted for drug development. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) are a new class of oral antihyperglycemic (OAH) agents that mainly act by preventing the reabsorption of filtered glucose by renal convoluted tubules. By their insulin-independent unique mechanism of action, SGLT2-I result in treating hyperglycemia while avoiding hypoglycemia, promote weight loss, reduce blood pressure, and, more importantly, decrease the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Therefore, SGLT2-I address fundamental aspects of the unmet needs of T2DM management that most of the other OAH failed to resolve. The main side effects of SGLT2-I are slight increase in the incidence of genital mycotic infections (GMI) and euglycemic ketoacidosis (EKA) along with increased risk of lower limb amputations, which has been reported with some but not all agents of this class

Cabergoline Treatment in Invasive Giant Prolactinoma

Patients with invasive giant prolactinoma suffer from a constellation of symptoms including headache, blurred vision, lethargy, and sexual dysfunction. Cabergoline, a potent dopamine agonist, is a known medication prescribed for the treatment of invasive giant prolactinoma. Here, we report a case of invasive giant prolactinoma in a 52-year-old Saudi male with dramatic response to cabergoline treatment clinically, biochemically, and radiologically

Beat the giant: case of a giant prolactinoma during pregnancy on cabergoline

Giant prolactinomas are a rare entity; during pregnancy, the risk for complications associated with these tumors is higher. Here, we report a case of a young woman who had an invasive, giant prolactinoma post resection with residual disease who became pregnant. This patient was treated with cabergoline to prevent tumor expansion in pregnancy, resulting in the uneventful delivery of a healthy baby boy

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis and Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Case Report

The aim of reporting this case is to highlight the association of two disorders, primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). They are usually seen in two different age groups and rarely together. PHPT is a rare cause of SCFE and only 10 cases have been reported in the literature worldwide. The patient in our report is a 13-year-old girl who presented to our clinic with bilateral knee pain and a waddling gait. Subsequent investigations showed that she had PHPT and SCFE with low bone mass. On admission, a parathyroidectomy was performed; then, the slipped femoral epiphyses were fixed with satisfactory results. A systematic algorithmic approach that was illustrated in a previously published case was used. Such cases should be managed with a systematic approach based on the patient's clinical status to prevent future morbidity. A literature review was conducted by performing a Medline search of all reported cases of PHPT and SCFEs

Cabergoline-Induced Pneumocephalus Following Treatment for Giant Invasive Macroprolactinoma Presenting With Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is rarely reported as the first presenting feature of giant invasive macroprolactinomas. Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is usually reported as a complication of trauma, neurosurgical, and skull-based procedures (such as pituitary surgery or radiations), and less frequently after medical treatment with dopamine agonists (DAs) for macroprolactinomas. This phenomenon results from fistula creation that communicates between the subarachnoid space and the nasal cavity. Meanwhile, pneumocephalus is another well-recognized complication after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenomas. This entity may present with nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and more seriously with seizures and/or a decreased level of consciousness if tension pneumocephalus develops. Case reports about the occurrence of spontaneous pneumocephalus after medical treatment with DAs without prior surgical interventions are scarce in the literature. Our index case is a young man who was recently diagnosed with a giant invasive prolactin-secreting pituitary macroadenoma with skull base destruction. A few months before this diagnosis, he presented with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea with no history of previous medical or surgical treatment. In this case report, we report an uncommon presentation for giant invasive macroprolactinoma with a CSF leak treated with cabergoline that was subsequently complicated by meningitis and pneumocephalus. This is a very rare complication of cabergoline therapy, which occurred approximately 1 month after treatment initiation

Assessment of Ramadan Education and Knowledge Among Diabetic Patients

Background: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk for one lunar month every year. Most of the Muslim patients with diabetes are unaware of the potential complications that can occur while fasting, such as hypoglycemia. The aim of this study is to assess the the patient education level and patients’ overall awareness of any possible complications that could occur while fasting during Ramadan and to determine how these patients deal with these complications. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and surveyed diabetic patients about their diabetes-related knowledge over a period of 4 months from the outpatient clinic at the Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center at King Fahad Medical City. Patients were included if they were ≥16 years and if they had been receiving treatment for at least 1 year before the study, irrespective of the medications used; patients were also asked about the presence or absence of complications. Results: This study included 477 patients (325 women and 152 men). Most patients (297; 62.3%) had type 2 diabetes. The patients’ mean age was 39.72 ± 15.29 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 10.80 ± 5.88 years. During the preceding Ramadan, 76% of patients reported fasting, whereas 58% said that they monitored their blood glucose levels once per day. Hypoglycemic episodes were reported in 60.3% of cases with type 2 diabetes and in 8.3% of cases with type 1 diabetes. Among those who had hypoglycemia, 2.8% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 17.8% with type 2 diabetes broke their fast. Finally, 54% of patients reported that their health care providers offered them instructions on diabetes management during Ramadan. Conclusions: Ramadan health education in diabetes can encourage, improve, and guide patients to change their lifestyles during Ramadan while minimizing the risk of acute complications

Management of prolactinomas during pregnancy – A survey of four Canadian provinces

Purpose: The guidelines for management of prolactinomas during pregnancy are mostly based on retrospective evidence or expert opinion. We conducted a survey to assess the current trends in management of prolactinomas during pregnancy. Methods: A case-based electronic questionnaire was sent in January 2011 to all practicing endocrinologists, in four Canadian provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia with three cases of varying severity; ranging from a microprolactinomas to a large macroprolactinomas compressing the optic chiasm. Result: There was a considerable diversity among endocrinologists with regards to monitoring and managing prolactinomas during pregnancy. In case of microprolactinomas, 94% of specialists would discontinue dopamine agonist (DA) therapy upon confirmation of pregnancy, 79% would discontinue serum prolactin measurement during pregnancy, and 94% would not perform routine pituitary imaging in the absence of new symptoms whereas 32% would perform regular formal visual field (VF) testing throughout pregnancy. In the case of macroprolactinomas, 65% chose to discontinue DA therapy upon confirmation of pregnancy, 30% would either perform regular MRI during pregnancy or, if serum prolactin was thought to be elevated out of proportion, with clinical judgment and 40% would not perform regular formal VF monitoring during pregnancy. In management of large macroprolactinomas, 82% elected to continue DA therapy whereas 18% chose surgical excision as the treatment of choice. Forty nine percent would perform regular MRI during pregnancy and 94% would perform regular formal VF monitoring during pregnancy. Conclusion: Among endocrinologists there is considerable diversity in management of prolactinomas during pregnancy, indicating a need for better consensus and clearer guidelines