| 11. |
- Erfurth, Eva Marie, et al.
(author)
-
Is growth hormone deficiency contributing to heart failure in patients with beta-thalassemia major?
- 2004
-
In: European Journal of Endocrinology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1479-683X .- 0804-4643. ; 151:2, s. 161-166
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A 21-year-old woman with beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM) and GH deficiency developed end-stage heart failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV, within 3 months after withdrawal of recombinant human growth hormone (GH). A myocardial biopsy excluded myocarditis and showed moderate iron deposit in the heart. Before her admission, intensified treatments with digoxin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, diuretics and extra chelation therapy (desferrioxamine (DFO)) had not improved her progressive heart failure. At admission, GH was reinstituted together with intensified treatment of cardiac drugs and low doses of DFO, and her heart failure reversed. Four months later, NYHA functional class II was reached and within 1 year her cardiac function was normalised. We suggest that GH deficiency due to iron-induced damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis can contribute to heart failure in adult patients with beta-TM.
|
|
| 12. |
- Erfurth, Eva Marie, et al.
(author)
-
Is there an increase in second brain tumours after surgery and irradiation for a pituitary tumour?
- 2001
-
In: Clinical Endocrinology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2265 .- 0300-0664. ; 55:5, s. 613-616
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To assess the incidence of second brain tumours in patients operated and irradiated for pituitary tumours. Design and patients The study base consisted of a consecutive series of 325 patients operated and irradiated for pituitary tumours, excluding patients with acromegaly and Cushing's disease. Comparison was made with the general population from the same catchment area as the patients. The follow-up period started in 1958 and on an individual basis patients were followed from the onset of postoperative irradiation until December 1995, or until date of death, emigration or a second brain tumour diagnosis, whichever occurred first. Results Three brain tumours (two astrocytomas and one meningioma) were observed, compared with 1.13 expected (standardized incidence ratios (SIR) 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-7.8). Conclusion The present study gives no firm support for an increased incidence of a second brain tumour in patients operated and irradiated for pituitary tumours. A crude meta-analysis of the present and previously published cohort studies of patients with irradiated pituitary tumours gives an SIR of 6.1 (95% Cl 3.16-10.69). Thus, the results of the meta-analysis are in favour of an increased risk for second brain tumours. A genetic trait that predisposes to both pituitary tumours and brain tumours is an alternative causal factor. There is no definite proof that cranial irradiation per se is the causal factor. This question cannot be fully answered until sufficient cohort studies of nonirradiated pituitary tumour patients have been carried out.
|
|
| 13. |
|
|
| 14. |
|
|
| 15. |
- Rosilio, M, et al.
(author)
-
Long-term improvement of quality of life during growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency, as measured by questions on life satisfaction-hypopituitarism (QLS-H)
- 2004
-
In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7197 .- 0021-972X. ; 89:4, s. 1684-1693
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Questions on Life Satisfaction-Hypopituitarism (QLS-H) is a new quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaire developed for adults with hypopituitarism. To determine the effects of long-term GH treatment on QoL, we evaluated QLS-H Z-scores in 576 adult patients with GH deficiency (GHD) enrolled in HypoCCS, an international observational study, using data from five countries in which comparative QLS-H data from the general population were available. Baseline QLS-H Z-scores were significantly lower in GH-deficient patients than in the general population of the same age, gender, and nationality. Z-scores were also significantly lower in female patients vs. males (P=0.006) and in adult-onset vs. childhood-onset GHD (P=0.002). Multivariate analysis associated female gender, multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, low serum IGF-I values (<75 μg/liter), and concomitant antidepressant medication with low baseline Z-scores. QLS-H Z-scores increased from -1.02&PLUSMN;1.43 (SD) at baseline to -0.25&PLUSMN;1.34 (SD) after 1 yr of GH treatment (P<0.001) and were no longer significantly different from the general population after 4 yr of treatment. There was no correlation between change in Z-score and GH dose or changes in IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 during treatment. This study demonstrates that 1) improvements in QoL, as measured by the QLS-H, are maintained during long-term GH replacement therapy of adults with GHD, and 2) the QLS-H is a useful tool for evaluating QoL in hypopituitary patients treated in clinical practice. The authors suggest that evaluation of QoL should be a part of the routine clinical management of adult GH-deficient patients, complementing the measurement of surrogate biological markers or other clinical end points.
|
|
