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Biomedical subjects

G W Clayton

Publications and source records attributed to G W Clayton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Inappropriate adrenal androgen secretion with once-a-day corticosteroid therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

To determine whether cortisone acetate given as a single daily dose would be as effective as the same amount divided into three doses in suppressing adrenal androgen secretion in congenital adrenal hyperplasia, we studied three patients with the salt-losing variety, who were judged to have been adequately treated during the previous year. Each patient was receiving cortisone acetate, 20.6 to 22.6 mg/m2 body surface area per day, divided into three doses, and 9 alpha-fluorohydrocortisone, 0.05 to 0.1 mg/day. Their spontaneous and adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated blood concentrations of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone were measured initially and were normal. Cortisone acetate was then given once a day in the same total daily dose. After 3 months, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration was increased in all three patients, and in two of them the plasma levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione were also increased. In the third patient, after 7 months of once-daily therapy, plasma levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione were increased. We conclude that a physiologic replacement dosage of cortisone acetate given once daily is not effective in controlling excessive adrenal androgen secretion in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone

Central diabetes insipidus. 22 years' experience.

The etiology of diabetes insipidus (DI) was determined in 73 children evaluated from 1962 through 1983. Intracranial tumors produced DI in 34 children, but 27 of these 34 children developed DI only after excision of the tumor. Diabetes insipidus occurred in ten children with intracranial birth defects, eight with severe central nervous system infections, and six with histiocytosis. Six had other causes. No etiology was detected in nine. Division of the cases into two time periods (1962 through 1972 and 1973 through 1983) revealed a decrease in the frequency of idiopathic DI (26.7% to 8.6%), an increase in the frequency of intracranial birth defects (0% to 17.3%), and an increase in the frequency of severe central nervous system infections (0% to 13.8%). Significant changes in therapy for DI have occurred during these 22 years. Use of desmopressin acetate has facilitated treatment of this complex management problem.

Brain Neoplasms

Patterns of growth from birth to maturity in infants and children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Patterns of growth of 30 children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia of the 21-hydroxylase type were studied from infancy to maturity. These children were compliant as to therapy. Intramuscular (I.M.) Cortisone (40 mg/M2) given every three days resulted in growth failure after the first year of life. A marked increase in height velocity occurred when oral Cortisone (20-25 mg/M2) was given at approximately 3 years. Growth was relatively normal during childhood in both boys and girls but there was a marked increase in mean weight in both sexes. Pubertal growth spurt occurred normally in males but was delayed in females. Weight decreased in both sexes at puberty but not to normal. Better methods of monitoring this condition should result in therapeutic regimes which allow normal growth patterns as well as normal mature height.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital

Growth increments with low dose intermittent growth hormone and fluoxymesterone in first year of therapy in hypopituitarism.

The availability of a commercial preparation of human growth hormone (hGH) prompted a study in children with hypopituitarism to determine the efficacy of a lower dose of hGH. Thirteen children, ages 4 years 3 months to 13 years 7 months, were given hGH concomitant with fluoxymesterone in an intermittent regimen. The hGH was given intramuscularly, 1 IU daily for 12 to 36 days in each course. There were four courses per year. The fluoxymesterone was given orally, 1 to 2 mg. The total amount of hGH administered was between 48 and 112 IU per year, as compared with the regimen of 312 IU per year, 2 units three times a week. The growth velocity in all 13 children improved, and the mean growth velocity was 6.4 cm +/- 1.13 SD. The mean bone age increment was 0.57 years +/- 0.14 SEM in one chronological year of therapy. The low dose regimen permits a significant reduction in cost of hGH without causing undue advance in bone age.

Adolescent

Bilateral testicular tumors in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A 22-year-old male with bilateral testicular tumors and the 21-hydroxylase variety of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) was studied. Preoperatively, on his usual glucocorticoid regimen, his urinary pregnanetriol excretion was increased (8.0-23.5 mg/day), serum LH and FSH were normal to increased (14.3-28.7 mIU/ml and 13.2-19.5 mIU/ml, respectively) and testosterone (T) was normal to decreased (176-600 ng/dl). At surgery, testicular vein concentrations of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and adnrostenedione (delta) were increased (30.1 mug/dl and 38.3 mug/dl respectively) while T was decreased (1,503 ng/dl); a positive peripheral vein--testicular vein gradient was not seen for these steroids. Following injection of 10 U of crystalline ACTH into the testicular artery; testicular vein concentrations of 17-OHP, delta and T increased to 729 mug/dl, 2,390 mug/dl and 9,660 ng/dl respectively. Microscopic examination of the testes revealed multinodular tumors composed of polygonal or rounded eosinophilic cells, arranged in cords, nests and clusters. The tumors extended from the hilus and compressed the adjacent testicular tissue. Electron microscopic examination of the tumors showed features, common to steroid-secreting tissues, with abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum in close proximity to mitochondria which was moderate in number. The adjacent testicular tissue was composed of immature tubules with normally developed Leydig cells in the interstitial tissues. From these data and a survey of previous works, it was postulated that these tumors were dependent upon ACTH for growth and steroid secretion. In view of the high serum LH concentration seen in association with incomplete suppression of adrenal steroid secretion in this study and the association of evidence of gonadotropin secretion with testicular tumors in other CAH patients, LH may also have contributed to the growth of these tumors.

17-Ketosteroids

Male pseudohermaphroditism with partial androgen insensitivity.

Androgen insensitivity was demonstrated in two male siblings with partial masculinization of the external genitalia. They had a previously undescribed defect characterized postpubertally by high plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone concentrations with low serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Studies in skin fibroblasts showed normal androgen receptor affinity and capacity for 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), normal nuclear retention of the receptor-DHT complex, and normal conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Adult

Electrolyte metabolism of muscle in the salt-losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The study of metabolism of muscle electrolyte in children with the salt-losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia reveals two types of alterations. After admission and during initial therapy with salt and desoxycorticosterone, the changes are typical of those seen in experimental animals with adrenalectomy and excessive replacement therapy. Discontinuation of the sodium supplement after three months of therapy resulted in a return of muscle electrolyte values to normal. During the period of poor growth common to these patients a different pattern was observed. Sodium and water accumulated without alteration in tissue potassium. The mechanism of this alteration is not clear; however, it is consistent with the known effects of excess cortisone on muscle composition. These observations permit the conclusion that at least two fractions of sodium are present in muscle fibers, that which exchanges potassium and that which is independent of potassium metabolism.

17-Ketosteroids