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Biomedical subjects

A Gómez-Pan

Publications and source records attributed to A Gómez-Pan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Hungry bone syndrome related to hyperthyroidism].

Hungry bone syndrome is a common clinical entity which is accompanying of hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hipophosphatemia, results from an increase in bone formation. It is related to a pathological scenario which causes an imbalance between osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediates bone formation, favouring the latter. Its classic presentation occurs after parathyroidectomy in hyperparathyroydism's patients. Its clinical features are largely due to plasmatic calcium levels reduction. Hungry bone syndrome is frequent in hyperparathyroid's patients who have development bone disease before surgery. Even less frequent, it has also been described after thyroydectomy in patients with hyperthyroidism. We hereby report a case of hungry bone syndrome in one patient who suffers a Graves' disease. Then, we will provide a brief review of pathogenesis and therapeutic features.

Adult↗

[The use of suprarenal scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of suprarenal incidentaloma].

OBJECTIVES: To assess the usefulness of adrenal scintigraphy for clinical evaluation of adrenal incidentalomas, and its relation with pathological diagnosis and follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have studied 46 patients with unilateral adrenal incidentaloma of size between 10 and 100 mm (average 30.5 +/- 19 mm). The lesions were discovered with abdominal computerized tomography in the study of a primary tumor (22%) or in the evaluation of benign pathology (78%). Adrenal scintigraphy assessed uptake in adrenal incidentaloma. Hormonal study included urinary catecholamines, plasma cortisol after dexamethasone, adrenal androgens, and renin and aldosterone in hypertensive patients. Five patients were operated, FNAB was carried out in three patients, and in the rest average follow-up was 29 +/- 21 months. Adrenal incidentaloma was considered nonfunctional if the lesion did not modified its size nor showed analytical alterations along a follow-up higher than 8 months. RESULTS: Of 46 adrenal lesions, seven didn't show uptake (three metastases, one cyst, one adrenal carcinoma, one pheochromocytoma, and one angiomyolipoma), 34 showed excessive uptake (29 nonfunctional adrenal nodules and 5 hyperfunctional adrenal nodules), and five had normal uptake (nonfunctional adrenal nodules). Adrenal scintigraphy was compatible in all cases with cytological study or the response to chemotherapy. Along the follow-up, growth of the lesion was demonstrated in 23%, and reduction or disappearance of the lesion in 11%, with no hormonal significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of a lesion with no uptake in adrenal scintigraphy forces to carry out complementary explorations in order to rule out malignant pathology. A lesion with excessive uptake is indicative of a benign process and should be assessed with hormonal determinations.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Growth hormone responses to oral glucose and intravenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone in acromegalic patients treated by slow-release lanreotide.

The aim of this study was to assess GH response to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and TRH stimulation test in a group of 10 patients with active post-operative acromegaly before and after long-term slow-release (SR) lanreotide therapy (30 mg im every 10-14 days). Seven patients (2 males, 5 females, 29-71 yr), who during therapy maintained plasma GH and IGF-I concentrations under 5 microg/l and 450 microg/l, respectively, were considered as responders and studied for 24 (1 patient) to 36 months (6 patients). Three patients (1 male, 2 females, 46-61 yr) with levels of GH and IGF-I above those values were studied for 12 months. The OGTT (75 g po) and TRH test (400 microg iv) were repeated before and after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. The GH response to OGTT was abnormal (nadir: >2 microg/l) at 6 and 12 months in poorly responsive patients. This response was normalized in all responsive patients. Nonetheless, 2 responsive patients showed abnormal GH values after OGTT once each throughout the 36-month study period. The GH response to TRH was characterized by great variability and exhibited unpredictable behavior throughout the study period both in responsive and in poorly responsive patients. Only 2 patients in the responsive group showed persistent normal GH levels (peak: < or =5 microg/l) after TRH for 3 yr. In conclusion, SR lanreotide treatment gave rise to a correct control of GH hypersecretion and to a normalization of GH response to oral glucose in 7 out of 10 patients, although it did not abolish the paradoxical reaction of GH to TRH in all responders. The effect of SR lanreotide on GH response to glucose tolerance test was not paralleled by GH response to TRH.

Acromegaly↗

Effects of acute infusion of erythropoietin on paradoxical responses of growth hormone to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in acromegalic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim has been to evaluate the effects of i.v. infusion of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the responses of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation in acromegalic patients. METHODS: We studied 16 patients (8 females, aged 29-68 years) with active acromegaly and 12 control subjects (7 females, 24-65 years). All participants were tested with TRH (400 microg i.v. as bolus) and with TRH plus rhEPO (40 U/kg at a constant infusion rate for 30 min, starting 15 min before TRH injection) on different days. Blood samples were obtained between -30 and 120 min for GH and PRL determinations, and between -30 and 90 min for TSH determinations. Hormone responses were studied by a time-averaged (area under the secretory curve (AUC)) and time-independent (peak values) analysis. RESULTS: Twelve patients exhibited a paradoxical GH reaction after TRH administration with great interindividual variability in GH levels. When patients were stimulated with rhEPO plus TRH there were no changes in the variability of GH responses or in the peak and AUC for GH secretion. Infusion with rhEPO did not induce any significant change in GH secretion in normal subjects. Baseline and TRH-stimulated PRL concentrations in patients did not differ from those values found in controls. When TRH was injected during the rhEPO infusion, a significant (P<0.05) increase in PRL concentrations at 15-120 min was found in acromegalic patients. Accordingly, the PRL peak and the AUC for PRL secretion were significantly increased in patients. Infusion with rhEPO had no effect on TRH-induced PRL release in control subjects. Baseline TSH concentrations, as well as the TSH peak and the AUC after TRH, were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Infusion with rhEPO modified neither the peak TSH reached nor the AUC for TSH secretion after TRH injection in acromegalic patients and in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: Results in patients with acromegaly suggest that (i) the paradoxical GH response to TRH is not modified by rhEPO infusion, (ii) rhEPO has no effect on TRH-induced TSH release, and (iii) acute rhEPO administration increases the TRH-induced PRL release in acromegalic patients.

Acromegaly↗

Recombinant human growth hormone therapy in malnourished dialysis patients: a randomized controlled study.

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; Saizen, Serono, Spain) has been recently used as an anabolic agent in several catabolic states, including malnourished chronic dialysis patients. However, up-to-date, comparative studies with control groups of dialysis patients have not been reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of rhGH on nutritional status in a group of malnourished adult chronic dialysis patients undergoing both continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD). The patients were randomly assigned to the control group (nine patients; 6 women, 3 men; mean age, 58.3 +/- 5.6 years; seven undergoing CAPD, two undergoing HD) or the rhGH group (eight patients; three women, five men; mean age, 63.9 +/- 3.1 years; four undergoing CAPD, four undergoing HD). Both groups were similar at baseline. All patients were given dietary prescriptions (35 kcal/kg/d and 1 g protein/kg ideal body weight/d) during 4 weeks. In the rhGH group, rhGH was administered at 0.2 IU/kg/d subcutaneously (SC) during this period. Anthropometric and analytic parameters were assessed before (0 weeks) therapy and at 2 and 4 weeks after starting therapy. The rhGH group showed an increase of 1.238 kg in body weight from 64.3 +/- 4.3 (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM]) to 65.6 +/- 4.9 kg (P < 0.05). Serum insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) concentrations increased from 216.6 +/- 42.5 to 581.2 +/- 171.5 ng/mL (4 weeks; P < 0.01) and transferrin levels increased from 271.2 +/- 16.3 to 314.5 +/- 21.2 mg/dL (4 weeks; P < 0.05). A significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was observed (62.1 +/- 1.8 v 46.8 +/- 3.8 mg/dL; 4 weeks; P < 0.05). Mean daily protein intake, determined by individual dietary survey, at 0 and 4 weeks, remained constant in both groups. In conclusion, weight gain and IGF-1 and transferrin level increases and BUN level decreases, despite the constant oral intake, suggest that short-term rhGH administration is associated with an anabolic reaction in malnourished dialysis patients.

Adult↗

Efficacy of octreotide in the regression of a metastatic carcinoid tumour despite negative imaging with In-111-pentetreotide (Octreoscan).

We present the case of a 52-year old patient diagnosed with carcinoid tumour of the rectum with liver metastases in which treatment with somatostatin analogues (octreotide) proved very effective in the disappearance of the symptomatology and dramatic efficacy in the regression of the tumour. Imaging by octreoscan was always negative. The role of octreotide in the treatment of carcinoid tumour and the usefulness of In-111-pentetreotide (octreoscan) in the localization and prediction of the response to treatment with octreotide is discussed. We conclude that the negative result of the scintigraphic image with octreoscan does not necessarily suppose the inefficacy of octreotide treatment. We believe that this may constitute an important issue since some patients may be denied octreotide treatment in the absence of a positive octreoscan result.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Spontaneous recovery from post-traumatic hypopituitarism.

Recovery of the pituitary function from post-traumatic hypopituitarism is an exceptional event. We present the case of a 32 year-old man who was involved in a road traffic accident in which he suffered a severe head injury. Four days following the trauma the patient developed post-traumatic central diabetes insipidus and desmopressin was started. At discharge of the intensive care unit, the patient was referred to us for endocrine assessment. Three months after the head injury, the hormonal evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis by means of insulin stress test with the simultaneous administration of TRH and GnRH resulted in reduced responses of GH, cortisol, TSH, FSH, and LH with low baseline serum concentrations of free T4 and testosterone. Both serum basal and stimulated PRL concentrations were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated deformity of the sella turcica with displacement of the pituitary gland by a post-traumatic retention cyst. A new evaluation of the pituitary function performed 6 months after the trauma showed spontaneous recovery of the gonadal, thyroid and adrenal function. However, GH response was reduced both to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, clonidine and GHRH tests. Presence of normal serum PRL levels, normal PRL response to TRH and reduced GH responses to pituitary and hypothalamic stimuli suggests both hypothalamic and pituitary damage. The present case shows an unusual case of partial spontaneous resolution of a post-traumatic hypopituitarism. Based on this clinical observation we recommend periodic evaluation of the pituitary function in these kind of patients.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Growth hormone responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone and clonidine before and after erythropoietin therapy in CAPD patients.

Correction of anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in patients with end-stage renal disease has been associated with improvement of several abnormalities in hypothalamo-hypophyseal functions. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the growth hormone (GH) responses to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and clonidine stimulation, as well as the baseline concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I), before and after the correction of anemia with rhEPO in a group of uremic patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Nine clinically stable patients (1 male, 8 female; mean age 55.4 years; mean duration of CAPD 14.1 months) were studied. Twelve normal volunteers were studied as controls. GHRH and clonidine stimulation tests were performed prior to starting rhEPO and again after partial correction of anemia with rhEPO therapy (60-130 U/kg/week, s.c., for 12 weeks). Blood samples for GH were collected during 2 h after GHRH (100 micrograms i.v. in bolus) or clonidine (0.15 mg/m2, p.o.) administration. In basal plasma samples IGF-I concentrations were also measured. Mean (+/- SEM) blood hemoglobin concentration rose from 5.32 +/- 0.25 to 7.22 +/- 0.25 mmol/l (p < 0.001) after rhEPO treatment. GH responses to GHRH were characterized by marked differences in single patients when compared with the control group. However, the GH peak and the area under the secretory curves (AUC) of GH responses in CAPD patients (9.89 +/- 4.01 micrograms/l and 15.06 +/- 6.02 micrograms.h/l, respectively) did not differ from those obtained in control subjects (14.58 +/- 3.25 microgram/l and 16.94 +/- 4.31 microgram.h/l, respectively). The study after correction of anemia showed an evident potentiation of GH values that reached statistically significant values at 60 and 90 min. GH AUC after rhEPO therapy rose to 25.61 +/- 9.25 micrograms.h/l (p = 0.01). In control subjects, clonidine administration was followed by a GH release that reached a maximum at 90 min (7.67 +/- 2.24 micrograms/l). However, CAPD patients exhibited a blunted response to clonidine both before (2.00 +/- 0.78 microgram/l) and after (2.78 +/- 0.76 microgram/l, NS) correction of the anemia with rhEPO. On the other hand, IGF-I concentrations after rhEPO therapy (32.05 +/- 5.52 nmol/l) were not significantly different from those found prior to starting therapy (38.13 +/- 8.44 nmol/l). In conclusion, these results suggest that correction of the anemia with rhEPO therapy potentiates GH responses to direct pituitary stimulation with GHRH although it is unable to restore the blunted response of GH to clonidine that is found in CAPD patients.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Influence of erythropoietin on paradoxical responses of growth hormone to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in uremic patients.

Several alterations in growth hormone (GH) secretion have been reported in patients with chronic renal failure. The aim of the present report has been to assess the effect of acutely administered recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) infusion on GH responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in uremic patients. Twelve male patients (mean age 46.2 years, range 24 to 69) were studied. Seven of them were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), two on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and two in pre-dialysis (PreD). None had been treated before with rHuEPO. Each patient was tested with TRH (400 micrograms i.v. in bolus), and with TRH plus rHuEPO (40 U/kg in constant infusion for 30 min) on different days. TRH administration provoked a paradoxical response of GH (peak > 5 micrograms/liter) in nine (5 CAPD, 2 HD, 2 PreD) out of 12 patients. In this group of patients with anomalous GH responses, rHuEPO infusion produced an abolishment of the paradoxical responses (GH peak < 5 micrograms/liter) in eight patients and a marked decrease in a further one. On the contrary, in patients with no paradoxical GH response, stimulation with TRH plus rHuEPO did not induce any change in GH release compared with that observed after TRH alone. rHuEPO had no effect on TRH-induced thyrotropin release. These results suggest that the paradoxical GH response to TRH in patients with chronic renal failure is blocked by rHuEPO administration. This rHuEPO action might be mediated by an increased release of somatostatin or an inhibited GH-releasing hormone secretion.

Adult↗

[Self-induced Cushing's syndrome due to dexamethasone abuse in nasal spray: clinical and biochemical study].

We studied a 55-year-old woman with remarkable cushingoid features, which presented biochemical evidence of suppression of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis. In the detailed anamnesis, we discovered that the patient had used during more than two years a nasal spray containing dexamethasone. In the initial assessment of the suprarenal function, in addition to suppressed concentrations of cortisol and ACTH, we observed the absence of response to acute stimulus (insulinic hypoglycemia and short ACTH test), as well as a normal response to sustained ACTH stimulus. After discontinuing the intranasal administration of dexamethasone, the patient remained asymptomatic; the basal concentrations of ACTH and cortisol, as well as the levels of urinary free cortisol, were normal at 3 months and the responses of cortisol and ACTH to their stimulus were restored to normal levels at 6 months. We conclude that in the cases of Cushing's syndrome with suppression of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis, it is necessary to conduct a detailed investigation on the consumption of glucocorticoids through unusual ways. The presence of a normal response to the sustained stimulus with ACTH may be a quick recovery index of the suprarenal function.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Anticardiolipin antibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease.

IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies were assayed by an ELISA technique in 69 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and compared with 43 patients with thyroid disease of no autoimmune aetiology (non-ATD) and 72 healthy controls. IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were detectable in 3 of 41 patients with Graves' disease, in 4 of 28 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in 5 of 43 non-ATD patients and in 3 of 72 normal subjects (differences not significant). IgM antibodies were measurable in 3 patients with Graves' disease, in 1 patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, in 1 non-ATD patient and in 2 normal subjects (differences not significant). Patients with anticardiolipin antibodies did not exhibit a higher titre of thyroglobulin or thyroid microsomal antibodies than patients without anticardiolipin antibodies. There was no relation between IgG or IgM anticardiolipin antibody levels and the thyroid function status, the serum concentration of thyroid hormones or thyrotrophin levels. Neither was there any correlation between anticardiolipin antibody levels and age, sex, previous treatments or time of disease progress. Our results suggest that there is no association between anticardiolipin antibodies and ATD.

Adolescent↗

Influence of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment on cortisol responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in CAPD patients.

The effect of chronic treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on pituitary-adrenal axis responses to stress in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is not known. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of rHuEPO treatment on corticotropin (ACTH) levels and cortisol responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in CAPD patients. Nine clinically stable and well-nourished patients (age 19-59 years) treated with subcutaneous rHuEPO, 34-208 U/kg BW/week, during 6-25 months were studied. Nine patients matched for age, sex, and duration of CAPD and not previously treated with rHuEPO were studied as the control group. Crystalline insulin (0.1 U/kg BW) was injected IV to the fasting subjects. Blood samples were collected before and 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after insulin administration. In all blood samples serum cortisol and glucose concentrations were assessed. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in hematocrit values and blood hemoglobin concentrations. Insulin administration induced a decrease in glucose levels that reached a nadir at 30 minutes in both groups (1.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/L in the rHuEPO group vs 2.1 +/- 0.2 mmol/L in the control group). After hypoglycemic stimuli cortisol levels clearly rose in rHuEPO-treated patients reaching a peak of 720 +/- 71 nmol/L at 60 minutes. However, in the control group the cortisol peak, which was not different from that observed in the rHuEPO group (676 +/- 44 nmol/L), occurred at 90 minutes. The areas under the secretory curve of cortisol did not differ between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗