Hypothalamic-pituitary axis remains intact after interferon-alpha treatment in hematologic diseases.
Many endocrinologic disturbances have been reported during and after interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment. These disturbances have often been caused by autoantibodies. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether IFN-alpha causes hormonal changes and if it is necessary to search for such disturbances routinely. Ten patients with hematologic malignancies were examined before and after 4 months of IFN-alpha treatment. Pituitary function was tested by hypothalamic releasing hormones (thyrotropin-releasing hormone, TRH, growth hormone-releasing hormone, GHRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH). The adrenal glands were tested with the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) test. The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test was performed on the men (n = 4). The IFN treatment was well tolerated, and no long-term hormonal side effects were found. The testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) index tended to improve. There were no significant differences between the hormone responses before and after IFN-alpha treatment. We conclude that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis remains intact after IFN-alpha treatment. There is no need to follow patients endocrinologically if the patients are not predisposed by autoantibodies.
Kauppila
M
M
Department of Medicine, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
Koskinen
P
P
Remes
K
K
Viikari
J
J
Irjala
K
K
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006706:Homeostasis; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin