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Biomedical subjects

Preamrudee Poomthavorn

Publications and source records attributed to Preamrudee Poomthavorn.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Traumatic brain injury-mediated hypopituitarism. Report of four cases.

Hypopituitarism has been increasingly recognised following traumatic brain injury. We report four children involved in motor vehicle accidents who had traumatic brain injury-mediated hypopituitarism. Various hormone defects are described. Growth hormone was the most commonly affected pituitary hormone. The time interval between the injury and diagnosis of pituitary hormone deficiency was between 2.5 weeks to 1.5 years. Hormone replacement therapy permitted normal completion of growth and development. Awareness among physicians treating children with traumatic brain injury of the risk of hypopituitarism is necessary to optimise the outcome.

Adolescent↗

11beta-hydroxylase deficiency masked by alternative medicines.

A 3.5-year-old Vietnamese boy presented with precocious pseudopuberty, hypertension and a skin rash that was treated with Vietnamese medications for 6 weeks, with resolution. Serum androgen levels were prepubertal, adrenal ultrasound was normal but a large unknown abnormal peak was detected in the urine steroid profile. Cessation of medications disclosed elevation of plasma androgen and 11-deoxycortisol levels. The unidentified urine steroid profile peak disappeared and a tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol peak was detected. This patient represents a difficult and challenging diagnosis of 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency. Careful evaluation of history and physical finding in the presence of apparent biochemistry discrepancy resulted in a correct diagnosis.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Early manifestation of obesity and calcinosis cutis in infantile pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a parathyroid hormone resistance condition, characterised by biochemical findings of hypocalcaemia or normocalcaemia with inappropriately elevated parathyroid hormone level and usually with a typical osteodystrophy feature. We report an infant with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia, who presented with obesity and calcinosis cutis as a clue to diagnosis. A 1-year-old female infant presented with suspected Cushing syndrome. She had round face, flushed cheeks, short nose and low nasal bridge. The infant was normotensive and not virilised. Investigations for Cushing syndrome were all negative. Calcinosis cutis was detected over both legs and the abdominal wall. Parathyroid hormone level was inappropriately elevated with a slightly high calcium level. Her mother was also noted to have Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy features with normal calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. Therefore, the diagnoses of infantile pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia and maternal pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism were made. This infant presented with an early manifestation of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy. Diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism should be considered as an unusual cause of obesity in infants, particularly in the differential diagnosis of Cushing syndrome when tall stature rather than growth failure is present.

Calcinosis↗

Exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism during adolescence: effect on peak bone mass.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subclinical hyperthyroidism induced by suppressive doses of L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy, so-called exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism, may cause diminished bone mass in postmenopausal women. The effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism during childhood and adolescence on peak bone mass, however, has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism during adolescence, the period of critical bone mass acquisition, would reduce peak bone mass. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen female adolescents and young adults with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and euthyroid goiter (aged 22.4 +/- 4.4 years) who had been treated with suppressive doses of L-T4, 127.5 +/- 23.7 microg/day, during adolescence (age at onset of subclinical hyperthyroidism, 14.2 +/- 1.5 years) for 6.3 +/- 3.4 years were enrolled in the study. Twenty-nine healthy female volunteers matched for age, weight, height and body mass index served as the controls. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: BMD of the lumbar spine, radius, Ward's triangle and total body were comparable in the two groups. In contrast, BMD of the femoral neck, trochanter and shaft of patients was slightly higher than those of controls. There were no correlations between BMD values and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: Exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism during adolescence has no demonstrable detrimental effect on peak bone mass attainment.

Adolescent↗

A prospective, randomized double-blind study in children comparing two doses of nebulized L-epinephrine in postintubation croup.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and side effects of nebulized l-epinephrine (NLE) at a dose of 0.05 mL/kg versus 0.5 mL/kg in the treatment of postintubation croup in children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-nine children, who developed signs and symptoms of upper airway obstruction (UAO) after extubation, were randomized to receive either 0.05 mL/kg or 0.5 mL/kg of NLE. UAO scores, vital signs (VS) and possible side effects were recorded before and at 20 and 40 minutes after the treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-one and 18 patients were allocated to the 0.05 and 0.5 mL/kg groups, respectively. Both groups showed improvements in UAO scores over time. There were no significant differences in UAO scores and VS between the groups at all time points. Side effects of epinephrine were not observed. CONCLUSION: In children with postintubation croup, the administration of NLE at the dose of 0.05 mL/kg results in similar improvements in the UAO scores, compared with the dose of 0.5 mL/kg. No complications were seen in either dose.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-positive systemic vasculitis associated with propylthiouracil therapy: report of 2 children with Graves' disease.

Systemic vasculitis is a rare complication of therapy with antithyroid medication. Antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis has been described in patients treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI). The majority of cases have underlying Graves' disease. The authors report 2 children who developed ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis during PTU therapy of Graves' disease. One patient, after PTU treatment for 3 years, developed severe systemic vasculitis. After 3 weeks of arthritis, she abruptly presented with hematuria, proteinuria and edema concomitant with anemia. Her serum creatinine was elevated, to 6 mg/dl. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. After admission, she developed intracerebral hemorrhage and pulmonary hemorrhage. She had positive perinuclear-ANCA (p-ANCA) with a titer of 1:160. Despite intensive therapy with immunosuppressive agents and plasmapheresis, as well as discontinuation of PTU, she died of the complications of severe systemic vasculitis. The other patient developed fever, arthralgia and leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the skin during treatment with PTU for about 2 years. Her symptoms and skin lesions disappeared after discontinuation of PTU. However, she has had a persistently high titer of p-ANCA 1:320 through 17 months follow-up time. Thus, patients who are treated with PTU can develop ANCA-positive vasculitis in a mild or severe form. Therefore, they should be carefully followed and monitored, not only for their thyroid status but also the serious complications of PTU.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗