Clinical endocrinology
-
Clinical endocrinology · May 2000
Comparative StudyLow-dose (1 microgram) adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) stimulation as a screening test for impaired hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function: sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in comparison with the high-dose (250 microgram) test.
We have shown previously that in contrast to the standard high-dose 250-microgram ACTH test, a low-dose 1-microgram ACTH stimulation test correctly identified all patients with pituitary disease who had impaired hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function. In this study we further compared the performances of these two tests as screening procedures for possible HPA impairment. ⋯ More sensitive and accurate, the low-dose 1-microgram ACTH test is as simple and safe as the standard 250-microgram test. We suggest it should replace it in screening for adrenal insufficiency.
-
Clinical endocrinology · Dec 1999
Polycystic ovaries and associated clinical and biochemical features in young women.
To determine the prevalence of polycystic ovaries as identified by ultrasound in a group of young, postmenarcheal women in the normal population, and to investigate how polycystic ovaries are related to the spectrum of clinical and biochemical symptoms associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ⋯ Polycystic ovaries are very common in this age group but are not necessarily associated with other symptomatology. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome varies widely according to the definition applied. Sub-group analysis of women with polycystic ovaries according to the presence or absence of features of polycystic ovary syndrome does not reveal an increasing trend for progression of endocrine abnormalities usually associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.
-
Clinical endocrinology · Nov 1999
Evaluation of the components of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-IGF binding protein (IGFBP) system in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and persistent microalbuminuria: relationship with increased urinary excretion of IGFBP-3 18 kD N-terminal fragment.
IGFs and their binding proteins (IGFBPs) have an important role in controlling glucose homeostasis and there is evidence to support their involvement in complications related to type I diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the components of the IGF-IGFBP system in adolescents with type 1 diabetes that had developed persistent microalbuminuria (MA). ⋯ Patients with MA showed higher levels of urinary IGFBP-3 (649 +/- 440 ng/h/m2) than patients without MA (398 +/- 229 ng/h/m2; P < 0.05). Urinary levels of IGFBP-3 were directly correlated to UAE (P < 0.001). WIB analysis, using monoclonal antibodies directed against characterized N-terminal and C-terminal IGFBP-3 epitopes, determined that the immunoreactive form of IGFBP-3 found in urine from patients with diabetes was an N-terminal 18 kD fragment. Serum IGFBP-3 levels were lower in patients with MA (baseline: 3613 +/- 598 microg/l; one year follow-up: 3347 +/- 624 microg/l) compared with patients without MA (baseline: 4701 +/- 1484 microg/l; follow-up: 4177 +/- 703 microg/l; P < 0.001). In serum from patients with MA, intact IGFBP-3 was decreased, as indicated by WIB analysis. Conversely, IGFBP-3 proteolysis was increased in patients with MA (baseline: 131 +/- 21% of control; follow-up: 130 +/- 23% of control), compared to patients with normal UAE (baseline: 96 +/- 23% of control; follow-up: 96 +/- 14% of control; P < 0.001). Serum IGFBP-3 protease activity was directly correlated to urinary IGFBP-3 levels (P < 0.001). Serum IGFBP-1 levels were increased in patients with MA (baseline: 36 +/- 20 microg/l; follow-up: 36 +/- 17 microg/l) compared with patients without MA (baseline: 17 +/- 11 microg/l; follow-up: 18 +/- microg/l; P < 0.05). Serum IGFBP-2 levels were also persistently increased in patients with MA (baseline: 503 +/- 134 microg/l; follow-up: 484 +/- 166 microg/l) compared with patients without MA (baseline: 375 +/- 83 microg/l; follow-up: 390 +/- 85 microg/l; P < 0.05). On the other hand, free IGF-I levels were decreased in patients with MA (baseline: 2.3 +/- 1. 5 microg/l; follow-up: 2.5 +/- 1. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
-
Clinical endocrinology · Nov 1999
Ultrasonographic evidence of joint thickening reversibility in acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide for 12 months.
A major cause of morbidity and functional disability in acromegaly is represented by axial and peripheral arthropathy. ⋯ Improvement in articular and periarticular soft tissue hypertrophy of the shoulder and wrist, two non-weight-bearing joints, but also of the knees, two weight-bearing joints, and heel tendons, was obtained by suppressing GH and IGF-I levels for 12 months with LAN treatment, although complete reversal of joint thickening was not achieved. Since no difference in the response to treatment, in terms of joint size decrease, was found between patients with short or long disease duration, treatment longer than 12 months may be needed to reverse the acromegalic arthropathy completely.
-
Clinical endocrinology · Nov 1999
Influences on quality of life in GH deficient adults and their effect on response to treatment.
Studies of the effect of GH on quality of life (QOL) in growth hormone deficient (GHD) adults have reported conflicting results. Recently, however, we have demonstrated that by selecting only those patients with impaired QOL the efficacy of GH replacement on QOL can be greatly improved. The improvement in QOL was observed to correlate significantly with that recorded before commencing GH therapy. This study aims to assess if demographic variables affect QOL in untreated GHD adults or the improvement in QOL following GH therapy. ⋯ Baseline QOL as assessed by self-rating questionnaires is influenced by the age of onset of the GH deficiency, adult onset patients expressing the greater distress. Improvements in QOL scores are influenced by both baseline score and to a lesser extent the age of onset of GHD, the greater improvement being observed in childhood onset patients. The degree of improvement was observed to be independent of gender, pathology and number of pituitary hormone deficits. In a cohort selected by subjectively impaired QOL, we have demonstrated childhood onset GHD patients perceive themselves to have less impairment of QOL pretreatment. In contrast to previous data in unselected cohorts, however, we have shown that those childhood onset GHD patients in whom QOL is significantly reduced, show a capacity for improvement that is equal to, if not greater, than that seen in adult onset-GHD patients.