Abnormal endocrine test results due to nonendocrine conditions

Abstract

The endocrinologist is frequently consulted with abnormal test results, which are caused by technical problems or systemic conditions that may be a physiologic response or an adaptive mechanism of the body. It is the clinician’s duty to detect these nonendocrine aberrations in order to prevent unnecessary or even harmful diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions. In this chapter we will outline some of the possible causes of abnormal endocrine tests not caused by endocrine disease and concentrate on systemic conditions that may cause endocrine alterations.