Endocrinology

Endocrinology is the specialty of medicine that engages in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases of the endocrine glands. The endocrine glands are organs that secrete hormones, substances that regulate the development and growth of the body, sex differentiation and all the sub-functions of the body. The functioning of the endocrine system begins at embryonic life and lasts up until the end of life, the ovaries constituting an exception.

The endocrine glands are:

• The hypothalamus,
• The pituitary (hypophysis)
• The thyroid,
• The parathyroid,
• The pancreas,
• The adrenal glands and
• The gonads (ovaries / testes)

Endocrine diseases are generally more frequent in women than in men. In women, the most common endocrine disorders are the thyroid related ones and the polycystic ovaries syndrome.

THYROID DISEASES

The most common of the thyroid diseases is the simple goiter (bronchocele), which is the enlargement of the thyroid gland, followed by hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, that is the abnormal thyroid functioning, conditions which may be accompanied by morphological findings (e.g. thyroid nodule).

POLYCYSTIC OVARIES SYNDROME

The polycystic ovaries syndrome is the most common endocrine disease in young women and its most common occurrences are related to menstrual disorders (mainly arraiominoroia or amenorrhea), hirsutism (hypertrichosis), acne, obesity and difficulty in conception (infertility).

MENOPAUSE

As mentioned previously, the only gland which stops functioning during ones life is the ovary. Ovarian shutdown marks the beginning of menopause in the woman. The exploration of scientific knowledge and the realization of the foundational importance of hormones for the body, led in recent years to the regular administration of oestrogen and progesterone (hormone replacement therapy) in postmenopausal women in order to prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease, occurring in both sexes at the same ratio and is due to insulin deficiency, the hormone secreted by the pancreas. The deficiency may be relative (inability of action-sakcharosis adult diabetes or diabetes type 2) or absolute (absence of secretion-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes type 1). Because of the ultimate complications of diabetes especially in the eyes and kidneys, the efforts being made worldwide for the prevention, early diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease are understandable. Women with diabetes can nowadays have a healthy child if they plan their pregnancies provided their illness is well-regulated and by the proper implementation of their diet regime and insulin therapy, under regular medical supervision.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Gestational diabetes is a separate entity of its own. It occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after childbirth, but implies a greater likelihood of complications for the neonate. It also indicates an increased chance of developing permanent diabetes in the future for the mother. However, with proper dieting and if needed with insulin treatment the smooth progression of the pregnancy is assured alongside with a healthy infant. Increased likelihood of gestational diabetes runs in women with a family history of diabetes, obesity, over 35 years of age, history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. LETO Maternity Hospital Laboratory covers the entire range of hormonal assays for the diagnosis and monitoring of endocrine diseases.