title: Plasma profiles of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin in patients with untreated Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Plasma profiles of prolactin, growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were evaluated in a group of untreated patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and a group of healthy age-matched controls. Plasma integrated concentrations of all hormones except prolactin were significantly lower in the patients as compared with the controls; however, prolactin nocturnal peak concentration was significantly elevated in the patients; nocturnal growth hormone levels were significantly reduced in the Parkinson group; ACTH and cortisol plasma concentrations were also consistently lower during most of the day in the patients with Parkinson's disease. These data confirm the presence of a hypothalamic disturbance in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which can affect pituitary function.
authors.affiliation: II Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santambrogio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiacconi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Scarponi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciuffetti
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone