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Biomedical subjects

A L Ogilvy-Stuart

Publications and source records attributed to A L Ogilvy-Stuart.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A novel variant of growth hormone (GH) insufficiency following low dose cranial irradiation.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of low dose (1800 cGy) prophylactic cranial irradiation on physiological growth hormone secretion. DESIGN: We performed an analysis of 24-hour serum GH profiles using 20-minute sampling. PATIENTS: Forty-four children were studied, of whom 21 were long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 23 were normal children. They were further subdivided into prepubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal groups. MEASUREMENTS: GH profiles were analysed by autocorrelation, Fourier transformation and spectral analysis of stationarized data, and peak detection using the Pulsar peak detection program. RESULTS In the normal children, there was a significant increase in the median (range) area under the curve (AUC) of the GH profile between the prepubertal and pubertal groups (62 (11-124) and 137 (142-158) IU/I/h respectively, (P less than 0.01)). There was also a change in the spectral analysis through puberty. The dominant frequencies were spread widely in the prepubertal and post-pubertal groups but sharply focused in the pubertal group. In the cranially irradiated children there was no significant increase in AUC between the prepubertal (62(13-110) IU/I/h) and pubertal groups (92 (14-163) IU/I/h). The wide range of dominant frequencies persisted in the pubertal cranially irradiated group due to the presence of additional high frequency pulses. The impression of a disturbance of the periodicity of GH secretion in the cranially irradiated pubertal group was further supported by the finding that the autocorrelation function in this group alone was not significantly different from that which would arise from random data. CONCLUSIONS: A novel form of GH insufficiency has been observed after low dose irradiation in childhood in which an abnormality of periodicity and a quantitative reduction in GH secretion appears restricted to puberty.

Adolescent↗

Endocrine deficit after fractionated total body irradiation.

Endocrine function was assessed in 31 children (17 boys) after fractionated total body irradiation used in the preparative regimen for bone marrow transplantation. Endocrine dysfunction was present in 25 children. Fifteen of 29 had growth hormone insufficiency 0.9-4.9 years after total body irradiation, yet only three of the 15 had received previous cranial irradiation. Five of 30 had thyroid dysfunction: two with a low thyroxine and raised thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and three with a raised TSH and normal thyroxine concentration. Thus the incidence of thyroid dysfunction (16%) is much lower than that reported after single fraction total body irradiation (39-59%). In only two children were abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis demonstrated. The majority of pubertal children assessed (n = 15) showed evidence of gonadal damage. All the pubertal girls (n = 5) had ovarian failure, although there was evidence of recovery of ovarian function in one girl. All seven boys in late puberty showed evidence of damage to the germinal epithelium, and two of three in early puberty had raised follicle stimulating hormone concentrations. Despite the use of a fractionated total body irradiation regimen, endocrine morbidity is substantial and children undergoing such procedures will require long term endocrine review and management.

Adolescent↗

Tumour occurrence and recurrence.

There is growing concern about the oncogenic potential of growth hormone (GH) used therapeutically. In rat experiments, a variety of malignant tumours have been induced following administration of supraphysiological doses of GH, whilst in other studies in hypophysectomized animals a lower than normal incidence of carcinogen-induced neoplasms was reported. In acromegaly, in which there is a pathologically sustained high GH level, there is a significantly increased incidence of cancer in general and specifically of colonic neoplasia. To determine whether the use of GH in the treatment of radiation-induced GH deficiency causes tumour recurrence, a comparison was made of tumour recurrence rates between 47 children treated with GH for radiation-induced GH deficiency after treatment for a brain tumour and a control population from the North West Children's Cancer Registry who did not receive GH (n = 160). All cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), including those that were (n = 15) and were not (n = 146) treated with GH were reviewed. The computerized tomography (CT) scans in the children with brain tumours were reviewed at the time of GH commencement and subsequently. There were 5 brain tumour recurrences after GH therapy: 1 astrocytoma, 2 ependymomas and 2 medulloblastomas. Adjusting for variables other than GH which might affect tumour recurrence, the estimated relative risk of tumour recurrence was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.28-2.37). In each tumour category there was no association between the use of GH and subsequent tumour recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Thyroid function after treatment of brain tumors in children.

In 134 children who had been treated for a brain tumor not involving the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, thyroid function was assessed up to 24 years after treatment with cranial or craniospinal irradiation. In addition, 78 children received up to 2 years of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Of 85 children who received craniospinal irradiation, 30 (35%) had abnormalities of thyroid function, and 10 (20%) of 49 who received cranial irradiation had such abnormalities. Frank hypothyroidism developed in three children and thyrotoxicosis in one. Thirty-six children had an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone level in the presence of a normal thyroxine level; in 16 of them the thyroid-stimulating hormone level subsequently returned to normal. Twenty-eight children who were treated between 1960 and 1970 were excluded from the analysis. Of 34 children who received cranial irradiation, five had thyroid dysfunction and 24 of 72 who received craniospinal irradiation had such dysfunction (p = 0.013). Thyroid dysfunction was present in 4 of 35 children who received no chemotherapy and in 25 of 71 who received chemotherapy (p = 0.014). Direct irradiation plus chemotherapy was more damaging than irradiation alone. These data confirm the high incidence of thyroid dysfunction when the thyroid gland is included in the radiation field. However, in a high proportion, the thyroid abnormalities are minor and revert to normal with time; life-long replacement therapy with thyroxine may be unnecessary.

Adolescent↗

Endocrinology of the neonate.

Endocrine disease in the neonate is uncommon, but, if it is not promptly recognised and treated, may be life-threatening or have profound long-term consequences. This article covers congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypothyroidism, neonatal thyrotoxicosis and hypopituitarism. Other endocrine problems with which the MRCP(Paeds) candidate should be familiar are also listed.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗