To determine the prevalence of hormonal abnormalities in infertile African women, serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, and progesterone were estimated using radioimmunoassay techniques during the midluteal phase in 2,047 female partners of infertile relationships. Of the patients investigated, 1,085 (53%) had abnormal serum levels of one or more of the hormones studied. Hyperprolactinemia, found in 537 (26.2%) of the patients, was the commonest hormonal abnormality. Serum progesterone level of 3 ng/mL or below which is indicative of anovulation was found in 235 (11.5%) patients, while the value of 5 ng/mL or below, suggestive of inadequate luteal functions, was found in another 121 (5.9%) patients. Since hyperprolactinemia, anovulation, and defective luteal function are treatable endocrine disorders, routine endocrine evaluation of infertile females in African societies is suggested.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum levels of gonadotropins, prolactin, and testosterone in oligo/azoospermic Nigerian males.

To determine the frequency of hormonal abnormalities in a Nigerian population of male partners of infertile relationships, serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and testosterone were estimated using radioimmunoassay techniques in 454 oligo/azoospermic male partners of infertile marriages. Of these men, 272 (59.9%) had an abnormal serum level of one or more of the hormones. Hyperprolactinemia, found in 144 patients, was the most common hormonal disorder in the group. Elevated serum gonadotropins associated with low serum testosterone were found in 120 (26.4%) patients, while 32 (7%) had a reduced serum testosterone concentration in association with low serum gonadotropins. Since hyperprolactinemic, hypogonadotropic, and normogonadotropic testicular failures are amenable to treatment, routine hormonal evaluation of male partners of infertile marriages is suggested in Nigeria and other places where this practice is uncommon at present.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum cholesterol esterifying activity in kwasiorkor.

Serum lipid levels were determined in 30 children with kwashiorkor and in 30 healthy children of comparable age. The serum concentrations of unesterified and esterified cholesterol, albumin and the cholesterol esterifying activity (CEA) were also measured in children with kwashiorkor before treatment and after recovery. All serum lipid fractions were significantly lower in kwashiorkor than in the normal children. After treatment and recovery, serum lipid levels were comparable to those observed in normal children. There was also a significant increase in serum cholesterol esterifying activity (CEA) following recovery from kwashiorkor.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma and red cell lipids in sickle cell disease.

Lipids, in particular phospholipids, are essential components of membrane systems, and the measurement of phospholipids and cholesterol in plasma and tissues is helpful in diagnosis. Phospholipids represent about 60 to 70% of total red cell (RBC) lipids, while about 25% is free cholesterol. Lipids in RBC are present in a dynamic state of equilibrium, and the RBC have the capacity for rapid exchange of lipids with plasma in several ways. The present study examined the cholesterol and phospholipid levels of plasma and erythrocytes in male patients with sickle cell anemia and in healthy male individuals of comparable age. This was performed with a view to detecting possible differences that might be related to some of the RBC abnormalities which accompany the disease. The results show that plasma lipids are significantly reduced in patients with sickle cell anemia and that RBC cholesterol was higher in sickle cell patients than in normal subjects.

Adolescent↗