title: [Combined hypophyseal function test in children with homozygous beta-thalassemia].
abstract: Nowadays, endocrine problems like retarded sexual maturation and growth deficiency, lead to substantial suffering in patients with beta-thalassemia major. The aim of the present study is the differentiation between a possible insufficiency of the pituitary gland and dependent target organs, respectively. 12 patients (age 1.9-18.10 years) were examined by means of a combined pituitary function test. The corticotropic axis turned out to be normal as shown by a regular stimulation of cortisol in all patients tested. The thyrotropic function was unaffected in all children: elevated levels of TSH pointed to primary hypothyroidism. Pubertal values of LH and FSH were found in only 3 out of 7 patients at pubertal age. In 10 out of 12 children, stimulation led to a rise in STH levels above 10 ng/ml. On the whole, there was no evidence for pituitary insufficiency in beta-thalassemia major.
authors.affiliation: Abt. für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universität Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ranke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Göbel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000097:blood; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin
vernacular_title: Kombinierter Hypophysenfunktionstest bei Kindern mit homozygoter beta-Thalassämie.