Aims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to assess the risk of death during hospital admission for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and, subsequently, following discharge. In addition, we aimed to characterise the risk factors for multiple presentations with DKA.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of all DKA admissions between 2007 and 2012 at a university teaching hospital. All patients with type 1 diabetes who were admitted with DKA (628 admissions of 298 individuals) were identified by discharge coding. Clinical, biochemical and mortality data were obtained from electronic patient records and national databases. Follow-up continued until the end of 2014.ResultsCompared with patients with a single DKA admission, those with recurrent DKA (more than five episodes) were diagnosed with diabetes at an earlier age (median 14 [interquartile range 9–23] vs 24 [16–34] years, p < 0.001), had higher levels of social deprivation (p = 0.005) and higher HbA1c values (103 [89–108] vs 79 [66–96] mmol/mol; 11.6% [10.3–12.0%] vs 9.4% [8.2–10.9%], p < 0.001), and tended to be younger (25 [22–36] vs 31 [23–42] years, p = 0.079). Antidepressant use was greater in those with recurrent DKA compared with those with a single episode (47.5% vs 12.6%, p = 0.001). The inpatient DKA mortality rate was no greater than 0.16%. A single episode of DKA was associated with a 5.2% risk of death (4.1 [2.8–6.0] years of follow-up) compared with 23.4% in those with recurrent DKA admissions (2.4 [2.0–3.8] years of follow-up) (HR 6.18, p = 0.001).Conclusions/interpretationRecurrent DKA is associated with substantial mortality, particularly among young, socially disadvantaged adults with very high HbA1c levels.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-016-4034-0) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

Macroprolactinaemia is a common occurrence in patients with hyperprolactinaemia, but associated symptomatology may not necessarily be linked. The neuroimaging abnormalities were also probably incidental findings and it is questionable whether neuroimaging is necessary when significant macroprolactinaemia is identified and the concentration of monomeric PRL is not elevated (using the Immuno-1 assay system, following PEG precipitation).

Central obesity in people with Type 2 diabetes was associated with increased arterial stiffness. This association was independent of the conventional factors associated with central obesity and further studies are required to identify the mechanisms involved.

Aims/hypothesisWe investigated whether biochemical cardiovascular risk factors and/or markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease were associated with the development of reduced renal function in people with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA cohort of 1066 Scottish men and women aged 60–74 years with type 2 diabetes from the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study were followed up for a median of 6.7 years. New-onset reduced renal function was defined as two eGFRs <60 ml−1 min−1 (1.73 m)−2 at least 3 months apart with a > 25% decline from baseline eGFR. Ankle brachial pressure index (ABI), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) were measured at baseline. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima media thickness were measured 1 year into follow-up. Data were analysed using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsA total of 119 participants developed reduced renal function during follow-up. ABI, PWV, NT-proBNP and hsTnT were all associated with onset of decline in renal function following adjustment for age and sex. These associations were attenuated after adjustment for additional diabetes renal disease risk factors (systolic BP, baseline eGFR, albumin:creatinine ratio and smoking pack-years), with the exception of hsTnT which remained independently associated (HR 1.51 [95% CI 1.22, 1.87]). Inclusion of hsTnT in a predictive model improved the continuous net reclassification index by 0.165 (0.008, 0.286).Conclusions/interpretationOur findings demonstrate an association between hsTnT, a marker of subclinical cardiac ischaemia, and subsequent renal function decline. Further research is required to establish the predictive value of hsTnT and response to intervention.

This case of plurihormonal thyrotropinoma is unique in having hypersecretion of TSH, GH, and FSH with low alpha-subunit. Such a combination may represent a new subentity of TSHomas.