Assessment of adrenal endocrine function in Asian thalassemics.
Indian Pediatr
;
2005 Jan; 42(1): 31-5
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-6587
ABSTRACT
Adrenal endocrine function was assessed in a cohort of 20 patients, between 10 and 20 years of age, with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia. Cortisol levels were assayed before and after ACTH stimulation with 1 micrograms and 250 micrograms. Adrenal dysfunction was defined as a basal cortisol of greater than 400 nmol/L and/or peak cortisol levels of greater than 500 nmol/L. Overall, 9 patients (45 %) had in vitro evidence of adrenal dysfunction. A statistical significant correlation (r=0.4308; P < 0.05), between wasting and the basal cortisol level, was observed. Similarly, there was correlation between the number of transfusions received and growth failure (r=0.4774;P < 0.05). In comparison to the involvement of other endocrine axes in polytransfused thalassemics, the adrenal endocrine function abnormalities are minor and clinically of little consequence. The observations, albeit, in a small cohort of thalassemics, stress the need for an annual estimation of basal cortisol level, especially in patients with wasting.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Hydrocortisone
/
Child
/
Adolescent
/
Beta-Thalassemia
/
Adrenal Insufficiency
/
Risk Assessment
/
Adult
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian Pediatr
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
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