Practical Neonatal Endocrinology

This 2006 handbook of neonatal endocrinology provides a wealth of practical information on the diagnosis and management of suspected endocrine pathology. Interpretation of endocrine function in the newborn period can be difficult, because of the transition following hormonal influences of the mother and placenta. The situation is even more complex in infants born prematurely. The unique format presented here is clinically orientated from presentation, diagnosis and management, including immediate, medium and long-term. It clearly explains and describes how and when samples should be taken, order of priority, sample volumes required, length of time one can expect before results are available and normal values. This book gives guidance as to what to tell parents, providing addresses of support groups. This is very much a practical ‘hands-on, how-to’ approach with flow-charts. It also provides a formulary and investigation methodology section and a brief description of physiology.

Author Biography

Trained in medicine at the University of Southampton then spent two years training in adult medicine at Southampton University Hospitals. She trained in paediatrics in Nottingham, Oxford, the Hospital for Sick Children Great Ormond Street, New Zealand, and Manchester and trained in paediatric endocrinology in Manchester whilst studying for her DM thesis on the late effects of childhood cancer. This was followed by a post as a clinical lecturer in paediatrics at the University of Oxford (based in the neonatal unit) where she commenced her research into the endocrinology of the new-born. She has been a consultant Neonatologist in Cambridge since 1998. Trained in medicine in Aberdeen and stayed there to do Pre-registration House Hobs in Renal Medicine and Paediatric Surgery then moved to London where she worked in the Central Middlesex Hospital, Belgrave Hospital for Children (Kings College Hospital group), Queen Elizabeth Hospital Hackney, University College Hospital Neonatal Unit, and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Her research on Adrenal Function in Preterm Infants was performed at University College Hospital Neonatal Unit with Dr. Jonathan Shaw, and in the Middlesex Hospital she benefited from the teaching of Prof. Charles Brook. After 10 years in London she moved to Oxford as a Senior Registrar to work with Prof. David Dunger. She then moved to her current post of Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh where she combines Neonatology at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health with outpatient Endocrinology at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children. Her research in perinatal adrenal function continues. Within the University of Edinburgh she has a major remit in planning and assessment in the undergraduate curriculum. She is also Associate Dean at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh where she has been responsible for setting up, and now running a web-based programme in Continuing Medical Education.