Response to the Combined Pituitary Stimulation Test by CRH, GHRH, GnRH and TRH in Normal Human According to Age and Gender / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been already known that each trophic hormone in combined pituitary responsiveness according to gender and age brings about variable response, but in Korea, there has been no actual data. In this study, in order to assess the pituitary responsiveness, a combined pituitary stimulation test was performed in Korean subjects with the variation in CRH, GHRH, GnRH, and TRH according to their age and gender. Were these the variables that were changed according to age and gender? Clarify that. Also, it might be good to write out the abbreviations.) METHOD: Fourteen physically and mentally healthy male subjects and fourteen female subjects, also physically and mentally healthy, underwent the combined anterior pituitary stimulation test by CRH, GHRH, LHRH, and TRH. Each gender group was divided further into young(meanSE; male: 231, female: 221) and old (mean; male: 513, female: 522) groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the gender and age groups. The Peak GH level and maximal GH increment were significantly increased in young men compared to old men. The Peak ACTH level and maximal ACTH increment were significantly increased in old men as opposed to young men. The Peak PRL level, maximal PRL increment, Peak TSH level, and maximal TSH increment were significantly increased in old women compared to old men. The Peak FSH level was significantly increased in the two old groups compared to the young groups, which showedindependence in gender, and the maximal FSH increment was significantly increased in old men when compared with the young men. CONCLUSION: These results show that in order to for accurate interpretation of the response from the combined pituitary stimulation test, it is necessary to consider age and gender of the subjects. We suggest response values of the combined pituitary stimulation test in terms of age and gender in healthy Korean subjects.

The Combined Pituitary Stimulation Test in Patients Suffered from Massive Postpartum Hemorrhage / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: ackground: Sheehan's syndrome secondary to severe postpartum hemorrhage is one of the major causes of pituitary insufficiency in Korea. Most of these patients do not manifest symptoms or signs of gross endocrinopathies. Earlier detection of pituitary insufficiency is of clinical importance. The combined pituitary stimulation test that uses the four hypothalamic releasing hormones is a rapid, safe, and effective way to evaluate anterior pituitary function. However, the criteria for a normal response has not been established in Korea. METHODS: Combined anterior pituitary stimulation tests were performed on fourteen healthy women who had no history of endocrine disease. Combined tests of anterior pituitary reserve were done no forty-five patients who suffered from massive postpartum hemorrhage which required transfusing, along with subsequent shock or changing consciousness and in thirty-nine patients who experienced mild postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS: 1) In the severe hemorrhage group, thirty-three of forty-five women (73.3%) showed blunted responses in more than one of the anterior pituitary hormones in the combined pituitary stimulation tests. However, in the mild hemorrhage group, only eighteen of thirty-nine women (46.2%) demonstrated blunted responses of more than one of the anterior pituitary hormones. 2) In the severe hemorrhage group, the TSH response was blunted in twenty-five patients (55.6%), prolactin in eleven patients (24.4%), ACTH in ten patients (22.2%), LH in ten patients (22.2%), GH in nine patients (20%), and FSH in five patients (11.1%). 3) The results of combined pituitary stimulation tests in the normal control group were different from the results of other studies. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the women who experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage should be evaluated by using the combined pituitary stimulation test. Moreover, criteria for a normal response to the combined pituitary stimulation test should be established in Korea.

A Clinical Study on Hypopitutiarism: Significance of Combined Pituitary Stimulation Test / 대한내분비학회지

Background: Hypopituitarism can be caused by various diseases. Its clinical manifestations vary, depending on the extent and severity of the pituitary hormone deficiency. And some patients may initially present with SIADH-like features. Combined pituitary stimulation test has been used for the diagnosis of hypopituitarism and subsequent hormone replacement therapy. However, the test is laborious, expensive and uncomfortable to the patients, So we performed this study to know whether combined pituitary stimulation test can be replaced with clinical features and simple basal hormone concentrations. Methods: Fifty-four patients who were diagnosed as hypopituitarism by combined pituitary stimulation test were included in this study. Clinical features and basal hormone data were compared with the results of combined pituitary stimulation test for the evaluation of pituitary-gonadal, pituitary-thyroid, and pituitary-adrenal axes, using X2 test. Results: 1) In pituitary-gonadal axis, the evaluation of clinical features and basal gonad hormone concentrations were significantly consistent with stimulation test(p<0.05), 2) In pituitary-thyroid axis, the evaluation of basal thyroid hormone concentrations were more helpful than stimulation test though results of the two tests were not consistent. 3) In pituitary-adrenal axis, all patients whose basal cortisol concentrations were low showed inadequate responses to stimulation test. However, stimulation test revealed adrenal insufficiency in some patients with normal basal cortisol concentrations. 4) 9 patients who presented with SIADH-like features were older than the others and had all corticotropin deficiency. Conclusion: In patients with suspected hypopituitarism, the evaluation of clinical features and basal hormone concentrations can be sufficient for the diagnosis of hypopituitarism and hormone replacement therapy. However, stimulation test is necessary to investigate adrenal function in patients with normal basal cortisol concentrations. And hypopituitarism should be considered in old patients who present with SIADH-like features.