title: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in patients with pituitary pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the value of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test in the diagnostic work-up of the thyroid function in patients with pituitary pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  To compare the thyrotropin (TSH) response and the absolute and fold changes after TRH administration in 35 patients with pituitary pathology and 26 normal subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of the patients and 2 of the normal subjects had a pathological response. No difference in the thyrotropic response to TRH was found either for the actual values, or for the absolute or fold changes of TSH between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of the TRH test in the evaluation of thyroid function in patients with pituitary pathology is modest. The best variables for evaluation of the presence of central hypothyroidism are still a free thyroxine estimate combined with an inappropriately low TSH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. mhartoft@rh.dk
authors.forename: Marie-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hartoft-Nielsen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Ase Krogh
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zimmermann-Belsing
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Feldt-Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine