Pituitary hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in secondary amenorrheic women associated with simple weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate endocrine dysfunction in simple weight loss amenorrhea.


METHODS
We studied pituitary hormone responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in 10 women with simple weight loss amenorrhea.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, University of Tokushima at Tokushima, Japan.


METHODS
Secondary amenorrheic women associated with simple weight loss who did not have anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
Intravenous injection of 500 micrograms of synthetic TRH.


METHODS
Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyrotropin, and prolactin were measured before and 15, 30, and 60 minutes after TRH injection.


RESULTS
In normally menstruating women on day 7 of the cycle TRH did not affect serum LH and FSH levels. In women with simple weight loss amenorrhea, however, TRH raised serum LH and FSH levels significantly (P less than 0.01, respectively). Prolactin response to TRH was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in women with simple weight loss amenorrhea than in normally menstruating women.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that TRH causes a significant rise in serum LH and FSH and the impaired prolactin response in women with simple weight loss amenorrhea.
Morishita
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
Takemoto
M
M
Higuchi
K
K
Yoshida
J
J
Aono
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone