Pituitary function in patients with newly diagnosed untreated systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hormonal dysfunction involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, prolactin (PRL) secretion, and sex hormone status contribute to development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
11 patients with SLE and 9 healthy controls were tested for their total anterior pituitary gland reserve by simultaneous injection of corticotropin-, growth hormone- (GH), thyrotropin-, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Serum concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, GH, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), PRL, luteinising hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured at baseline and after injection. Baseline values of oestradiol, testosterone, and thyroxine were determined.


RESULTS
Basal and stimulated serum concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, GH, and PRL were similar in both groups. In contrast, despite similar basal thyroxine levels the TSH response to TRH was significantly higher in patients than in controls. LH and FSH levels in premenopausal female patients of both groups were identical. In contrast, two of the three male patients were hypogonadal without compensatory increases of basal LH and FSH levels, but they retained excessive stimulatory capacity in response to GnRH.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant alteration of the HPA axis was found in patients with SLE, which is inadequate in view of the continuing inflammation. GH and PRL secretion were normal. The pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-gonadal axes were affected in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated SLE.
Köller
M D
MD
Clinic for Internal Medicine III, Department of Rheumatology, University of Vienna, Austria. Marcus.Koeller@meduniwien.ac.at.
Templ
E
E
Riedl
M
M
Clodi
M
M
Wagner
O
O
Smolen
J S
JS
Luger
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000503:physiopathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin