Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Both GH deficiency (GHD) and male hypogonadism are thought to be associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which is at least partly attributed to higher Insulin resistance. Potential reversibility of increased risk factors after gonadal replacement was assessed in this study, by comparing replaced and unreplaced hypogonadal men with GHD.Subjects and methods: Seventy-seven hypogonadal adult male patients with GHD ha...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a chronic disorder characterized of profound reduction in body weight and amenorrhoea. Despite emaciation and avoidance of cholesterol-rich food, hypercholesterolaemia is a common feature. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in lipid metabolism with weight gain in 17 severe AN patients aged 23.8±1.6 years (DSM-IV criteria). They were compared with age-matched cohorts of 11 healthy controls (22.5±3.9 years) before and after wei...

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) impairs bone mass and strength. Androgen deficient men exhibit impaired bone mass, but the extent to which testosterone replacement can prevent this remains disputable. The aim of this study was to assess whether androgen deficiency presents an additional risk factor for bone health in male patients with GHD and whether this is correctable by testosterone substitution.A group of 81 male patients with GHD, not receiving GH ...

Previous studies have shown exaggerated ACTH and cortisol responses to ghrelin. Seven patients who were cured by transsphenoidal operation from CD were included in the study and tested with ghrelin (1 mcg/kg i.v.) before and six months after the operation. Their results were compared with eight healthy control subjects. Results are presented as mean±S.D. Mann–Whitney and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for statistical analysis.<p class="abstext...

Obesity protects from osteoporosis. Bone remodeling and energy metabolism could be regulated by the adipocyte-derived hormone, leptin acting on osteoblasts though hypothalamic pathways. Hypothalamic lesions cause obesity. Since most of these patients are also hypopituitary with low IGF1 which could affect bone metabolism the aim of our study was to investigate whether obesity would protect them from osteoporosis.Three groups of patients were studied: (1)...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with bone loss due to weight loss, decreased caloric intake, amenorrhoea and behavioral changes. The most important predictor of the occurrence of bone loss is body weight (BMI <16.5 kg/m2). Previous studies suggested that many factors including effects of chronic undernutrition in AN patients is associated with a reduction of bone formation (osteocalcin-OC) uncoupled with increased resorption markers (crosslaps-CTx). The aim ...

Somatuline Autogel® 120 mg (SATG, Ipsen, Sweeden) is a high dose sustained release aqueous gel formulation, supplied in a prefiled syringe and given by deep subcutaneous injection. The aim of this cross-sectional hospital based study, approved by the local ethical committee, was to investigate efficacy and tolerability of SATG given every 4 weeks in patients with active acromegaly.Twenty patients (9f, 11m) aged 42.9±17.8 (range 17&#1...

Patients with hypopitutarism have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates than general population, as manifested by elevated fasting lipids and insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the lipid levels and insulin responses during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in adult onset growth hormone deficiency (AO-GHD), without growth hormone replacement during a follow-up period of seven years. Ten hypopituitary patients with operated non-functioning pi...

A female patient, 34 years old, was referred to endocrinologist, for an incidentally discovered interstellar mass on MR, mild subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia, and irregular menstrual cycles. She was diagnosed with Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome (BSS) in neonatal age. Epilepsy, her most prominent component of BSS, was well controlled but only with triple anticonvulsant therapy (Valproate, Carbamazepine, Clonazepam). She was obese, clinically euthyroid, and exhibite...

Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and cortisol release in rodents and healthy humans.Aim: to determine the effects of ghrelin on neuroendocrine response in patients with AN in this cross-sectional hospital based study, approved by the Local Ethical Committee. Twenty-five young women were studied: AN with very low body weight (BMI 12.0±0.4 kg/m2), partially recovered AN (PRAN 17.2±1.3 kg/m2) and consti...