Metamorphosis of Endocrinology

Overview

During the last half of century we witnessed not only changes in the definition of hormone, in the conception of endocrinology and in understanding of mechanisms of hormone action, but also an immense development of technical tools of endocrine diagnostic and therapy. Endocrinology has had a profound impact on other branches of medicine with the consequence that the frontiers of classical endocrinology are slowly vanishing. It is time to ask what will be the future demands of patients and whether there will be appropriate number of specialists in endocrinology in the near future. Besides the present type of care of the patients with endocrinopathies it is necessary to envision a new type of patient requesting „comfort therapy“, as e.g. improvement of signs of aging, declining sexuality, or body height or weight. 

Key words:
hormone, endocrinopathies, endocrine diagnostic, endocrine therapy, specialists in endocrinology.