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PubMed · 12777591

Rest-activity patterns in children with hypopituitarism.

Scott A Rivkees
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Physical lesions in the region of the suprachiasmatic nuclei, which are the site of a circadian clock, result in abnormal circadian rhythmicity in animals, yet the extent of biological rhythm problems in individuals with anatomic or functional lesions in the hypothalamic-pituitary region are largely unknown. To address this issue, we examined patterns of rest and activity of children with hypopituitarism. METHODS: Children who were between the ages of 2 and 18 years and had the diagnosis of panhypopituitarism were evaluated. Twenty children were studied, including children with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD), congenital hypopituitarism, brain tumors, closed head trauma, and head irradiation. For assessing patterns of activity, individuals wore Actiwatches for 3-4 weeks to measure patterns of gross motor activity. RESULTS: Seventeen children had normal patterns of rest and activity, with an average period length of 24.01 +/- 0.01 hours. Three children, including 2 with SOD and 1 with a hypothalamic germinoma, showed abnormal activity patterns in which there was not consolidated rest at night. One patient with an optic glioma had nonentrained circadian phase. CONCLUSIONS: A proportion of children with hypopituitarism have abnormal daily rest-activity patterns. Children with anterior hypothalamic tumors and SOD seem to be at risk for circadian system dysfunction.

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Activity CyclesAdolescentBrain NeoplasmsChildChild, PreschoolChronobiology DisordersCraniocerebral TraumaCraniopharyngiomaFemaleGerminomaHumansHypopituitarismMaleMotor ActivityOptic Nerve GliomaRestSepto-Optic DysplasiaJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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Scott A Rivkees. 2003. Rest-activity patterns in children with hypopituitarism.. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.111.6.e720

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