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PITUITARY AND THYROID INSUFFICIENCY IN THALASSAEMIC HAEMOSIDEROSIS
Author(s) -
LIVADAS D. P.,
SOFRONIADOU K.,
SOUVATZOGLOU A.,
BOUKIS M.,
SIAFAKA L.,
KOUTRAS D. A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1984.tb03439.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , basal (medicine) , prolactin , hormone , insulin
SUMMARY Thyroid and pituitary function tests using hypothalamic releasing factors were performed in seven patients with thalassaemia and secondary haemosiderosis and in a control group of seven healthy subjects. The TSH level in the thalassaemic patients (18.07± 1.10 μU/ml) was higher than in the controls (1.01±0.14 μU/ml, P<0.001). After TRH administration the TSH values increased less than in the controls. Serum thyroxine and FT4I values were lower in the group of patients with thalassaemia (76.7 ± 7.8 nmol/1 and 19.3 ± 2.2) compared to the controls (116.1±6.9 nmol/1, P <0.005 and 38.6 ± 3.6, P <0001). The basal prolactin values did not differ significantly between the two groups, but after TRH administration the increment was significantly lower in thalassaemics than in controls ( P <0.005). The basal LH values were lower in the thalassaemic patients (1.37±0.24 ng/ml) than in the controls (3.23 ± 0.50 ng/ml) and did not increase significantly after LHRH administration. The FSH values were also lower in the thalassaemic group (0.46±0.15 ng/ml) compared to the controls (2.06±0.08 ng/ml, p <0.001), and increased only slightly after LHRH administration. We conclude that in thalassaemia pituitary deficiency exists, mostly of gonadotrophs, but possibly also for the thyrotrophs and the lactotrophs. Latent primary hypothyroidism has also been found in the thalassaemic group. The functional abnormalities found in both endocrine glands are best explained as a consequence of coexisting haemosiderosis.