title: [Alteration of luteinizing hormone pulsatility in patients with arterial hypertension].
abstract: The pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in men with mild and moderate hypertension was studied. LH pulsatility was evaluated for eight hours in 14 male patients, who were subdivided into two groups: group A, consisting of 8 patients, whose systolic blood pressure ranged between 180-160 mmHg and the diastolic between 104-95 mmHg; group B, 6 patients whose systolic blood pressure ranged between 220 and 180 mmHg and the diastolic between 115-105 mmHg. Seven healthy adult males were evaluated as a control. The major changes of LH pulsatility in group A included an increased peak width (p < 0.05), increased peak amplitude (p < 0.001) and increased peak area (p < 0.001). In group B the changes followed the same pattern as in group A, but were more pronounced. The number of LH peaks was reduced (p < 0.01), the peak width was increased (p < 0.05), and both peak amplitude and peak area were increased as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Our study demonstrates that the pattern of LH pulsatility is altered in essential hypertension and the main feature is represented by the prolonged duration of LH peaks and their greater amplitude. The altered pattern of LH secretion is likely to reflect a primary hypothalamic derangement with the gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) secreting neurons remaining synchronized for longer times and secreting larger Gn-RH masses than in normal subjects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopathologia Medica, Università La Sapienza, Roma.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santiemma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garufi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnanti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beligotti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malizia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fabbrini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Meo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
vernacular_title: Alterazione della pulsatilità dell'ormone luteinizzante in pazienti affetti da ipertensione arteriosa.