Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of GH secretion is not well defined. Hypercortisolism inhibits GH secretion, but also hypocortisolism is correlated with impaired GH response to dynamic tests. This study was aimed to evaluate the GH reserve after GHRH+arginine test in patients with Addison’s disease (AD) and in operated patients with Cushing’s disease (CD).Design: Twelve AD patients (6M, 6F, aged 52±3.4 years, BM...

Hypogonadism occurs in myotonic dystrophy (DM) type 1 and 2, a multisystemic autosomal dominant disorder. DM patients have genetically induced insulin-resistance (IR) and visceral obesity, providing a model to study the impact of metabolic disruptions on hypogonadism. We assessed hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal function and metabolic features in 22 DM1 and 8 DM2 males (mean±S.D., 46±11years). Hypogonadism, defined as total testosterone (T)<320 ng/dl...

Introduction: Myotonic dystrophy (DM) type 1 and 2 are multisystemic autosomal dominant disorders with visceral obesity, insulin resistance and hypogonadism. The prevalence of metabolic risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in DM is not well defined, particularly in patients affected by DM2, a milder and clinical challenging condition.Methods: We assessed the frequency of CAD risk factors in 31 male DM1 (44±11 years) and 13 male DM2 (54&#17...

A highly polymorphic microsatellite in the IGF1 gene promoter, composed of variable cytosine-adenine (CA) repeats (n=10–24) has been linked to IGF1 serum concentrations in normal, acromegalic and GHD subjects with conflicting results. Aim of this study was to investigate whether this polymorphism may influence the clinical and biochemical characteristics of adult patients with GHD (n=97). Moreover, the response to 12-month rhGH replacement in terms of IGF1 l...

Previous evidences have suggested that in adults with organic hypopituitarism the condition of GH deficiency (GHD) could mask the presence of other pituitary deficits. In our experience, both central hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism were unmasked during rhGH therapy in adults with GHD due to central organic lesions. Few and conflicting information are available about the relationship among GHD, rhGH therapy and gonadal function. Aim of the present study was to investigate the...

Introduction: Hypogonadism occurs in myotonic dystrophy (DM) type 1 and 2, a multisystemic autosomal dominant disorder with insulin resistance and visceral obesity. DM patients provide a model to investigate the impact of metabolic alterations on hypogonadism.Methods: We assessed Leydig and Sertoli cell functions and metabolic features in 32 DM1 (44+11 years),13 DM2 patients (54+9 years) and 32 age and BMI-matched controls.Results:...