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D K Schönberg

Publications and source records attributed to D K Schönberg.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Short-term, high-dose testosterone treatment fails to reduce adult height in boys with constitutional tall stature.

UNLABELLED: Height predictions based on three different methods (Bayley-Pinneau [BP], Tanner-Whitehouse Mark II [TW II], Roche-Wainer-Thissen [RWT]) were compared to adult heights in 19 males with constitutional tall stature previously treated with high-dose testosterone oenanthate for 6 months (group A) and 25 untreated tall males (group B). Their chronological ages (CA) at the initial evaluation of tall stature ranged from 12.1 to 16.6 years in group A and from 10.4 to 15.7 years in group B; at the time of assessment of adult height ages ranged from 18.0 to 26.5 years and from 18.4 to 25.1 years, respectively. Height measurements and predicted adult heights were expressed as height standard deviation scores (height SDS) for chronological age using the tables of Reinken and van Oost [14]. Height SDS in group A were 2.8 (range = 1.8-5.4) before testosterone treatment, 3.0 (range = 2.0-4.8) thereafter and finally 3.0 (range = 2.1-4.2) (P = NS) and in group B 2.7 (range = 0.5-4.3) and 2.4 (range = 1.3-3.5) (P = NS). A significant difference between adult height SDS and predicted height SDS according to BP was detected both in group A (3.0; range = 2.1-4.2 vs 3.6; range = 2.4-5.0. P < or = 0.004) and group B (2.4; range = 1.3-3.5 vs 3.0; range = 2.0-4.9; P < or = 0.0002), whereas no significant difference between adult height SDS and predicted height SDS according to TW II and RWT was found in either group. These data indicate that BP height predictions overestimated adult height in our patient group of treated and untreated males with constitutional tall stature. In contrast, the TW II and RWT methods were more accurate in predicting adult height in these patients, but also failed to demonstrate that testosterone therapy in boys with constitutional tall stature can be limited to a 6-month period in order to reduce adult height. CONCLUSION: The widely used height prediction method of BP is inaccurate in boys with constitutional tall stature. High dose testosterone treatment fails to reduce adult height in these individuals when discontinued before complete closure of the epiphyses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Transient secondary hypothyroidism in children after cardiac surgery.

Thyroid hormone status was assessed in 132 children with congenital heart defects undergoing cardiac surgery (median age 3.1 y; range 2 d to 16.2 y). Plasma TSH, thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), thyroglobulin (Tg), and urinary iodine excretion were measured before and every other day after cardiac surgery (d 1-21). After surgery we observed strikingly low plasma concentrations of TSH (0.4 mU/L; 0.2-1.3), T3 (0.6 nmol/L; 0.3-1.2), T4 (48.9 nmol/L; 12.9-82.4), IT4 (12.9 pmol/L; 5.1-19.3), and Tg (9.4 micrograms/L; 1.5-20.6), whereas rT3 plasma concentrations increased (0.13 pmol/L; 0.05-0.3; n = 40). The maximal post-operative changes of TSH and rT3 preceded changes of T3, T4, fT4, and Tg. Postoperative urinary iodine excretion increased significantly (n = 109). Thyroid hormone plasma concentrations were lowest after cardiopulmonary bypass operations and in patients treated with dopamine. In patients with postoperative T3 plasma concentrations less than 0.6 nmol/L (n =52) the period of mechanical ventilation and intensive care treatment was significantly prolonged. Furthermore, the cumulative doses of inotropic and vasoactive catecholamines and furosemide were significantly higher in this patient group. Our results demonstrate transient secondary hypothyroidism in children after cardiac surgery that may contribute to postoperative cardiac and respiratory dysfunction and may delay recovery. Possible benefits of thyroid hormone replacement therapy need to be thoroughly examined.

Acute Disease↗