Biomedical subjects

Declan Cody

Publications and source records attributed to Declan Cody.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Growth impairment and adrenal suppression on low-dose inhaled beclomethasone.

Growth impairment and adrenal suppression secondary to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is a well-recognised phenomenon. We report a 13-year-old boy, treated long-term for asthma, who presented with short stature while on low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (beclomethasone 200 microg/d). Investigations revealed evidence of severe adrenal suppression. Weaning off the steroid treatment resulted in recovery of adrenal activity and rapid growth. While low-dose ICS are normally considered to have few side effects, this case illustrates the extreme variability of individual sensitivity and the need for careful surveillance of all children treated with long-term steroids.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The gonadotrophins response to GnRH test is not a predictor of neurological lesion in girls with central precocious puberty.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test in identifying intracranial abnormality in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study of 67 girls diagnosed with CPP who underwent cranial MRI scans. Patients were not receiving any therapy and there were no neurological signs or symptoms at presentation. Patients underwent evaluation of GnRH stimulation test and plasma oestradiol levels at presentation. RESULTS: Mean age at onset of puberty was 6.2 years (range 2.0 to 8.0 years). Intracranial abnormalities were present in 10 (15%) patients, while 57 girls (85%) had no abnormalities. No significant difference was shown between girls with intracranial abnormality and girls without intracranial abnormality in basal LH or FSH values, peak LH or FSH values, LH/FSH peak ratios, peak LH/basal LH ratios, peak FSH/ basal FSH ratios at presentation. CONCLUSION: GnRH stimulation test does not identify those with underlying intracranial abnormality at presentation. MRI imaging remains necessary in all cases of central precocious puberty in girls.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

The differing outcomes of hyperthyrotropinaemia.

Hyperthyrotropinaemia, in which normal levels of T4 occur in association with raised TSH, is picked up on neonatal screening. The outcome of children with persistent hyperthyrotropinaemia is uncertain. The study objective was to evaluate the outcome of children with the persistent form of hyperthyrotropinaemia. We carried out a retrospective analysis on children who attended one institution over the last 20 years with this diagnosis. Eight children were diagnosed with hyperthyrotropinaemia lasting more than 3 months in total. Four had a transient form lasting between 3 and 18 months in total. Three continue to have persistently raised TSH at 5, 9 and 17 years, respectively. One patient became biochemically hypothyroid at 1 year of age requiring treatment with replacement thyroxine. All of our group had normal growth and development. We recommend that thyroid function monitoring should continue in all children with hyperthyrotropinaemia until the thyroid function tests have normalised.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗