Effect of hormone replacement therapy on the bone mass and urinary excretion of pyridinium cross-links.

CONTEXT: The menopause accelerates bone loss and is associated with an increased bone turnover. Bone formation may be evaluated by several biochemical markers. However, the establishment of an accurate marker for bone resorption has been more difficult to achieve. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on bone mass and on the markers of bone resorption: urinary excretion of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline. DESIGN: Cohort correlational study. SETTING: Academic referral center. SAMPLE: 53 post-menopausal women, aged 48-58 years. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Urinary pyr and d-pyr were measured in fasting urine samples by spectrofluorometry after high performance liquid chromatography and corrected for creatinine excretion measured before treatment and after 1, 2, 4 and 12 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) before treatment and after 12 months of HRT. RESULTS: The BMD after HRT was about 4.7% (P < 0.0004); 2% (P < 0.002); and 3% (P < 0. 01) higher than the basal values in lumbar spine, neck and trochanter respectively. There were no significant correlations between pyridinium cross-links and age, weight, menopause duration and BMD. The decrease in pyr and d-pyr was progressive after HRT, reaching 28.9% (P < 0.0002), and 42% (P < 0.0002) respectively after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline excretion decreases early in hormone replacement therapy, reflecting a decrease in the bone resorption rate, and no correlation was observed with the bone mass evaluated by densitometry.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: clinical and laboratory evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinically, and with laboratory, tests, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO). PATIENTS: One hundred and twelve women with PCO were studied. METHODS: The following data was recorded: Current age; age at menarche; menstrual irregularity, occurrence of similar cases in the family; fertility, obstetric history; body mass index (BMI); and presence of hirsutism. Serum measurements of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were taken. RESULTS: All patients presented either oligomenorrhea (31 percent), periods of secondary amenorrhea (9 percent), or both alterations (60 percent). The majority of the patients were infertile (75.6 percent). The LH/FSH ratio was higher than 2:1 in 55 percent of the patients and higher than 3:1 in 26.2 percent. The ultrasonographic aspect of the ovaries was considered to be normal in 31 percent. CONCLUSION: The main clinical feature of the PCO is the irregularity of menses since menarche, and that the laboratory tests would be important to exclude other disorders such as hyperprolactinemia or hyperandrogenemia caused by late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Serum levels of androstanediol glucuronide, total testosterone, and free testosterone in hirsute women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum levels of androstanediol glucuronide (3 alpha-diol G), total T, and free T in hirsute and nonhirsute women. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. PATIENTS: Hirsute women with oligomenorrhea, hirsute women with regular ovulatory cycles, and nonhirsute women with regular cycles were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Serum levels of 3 alpha-diol G, total T, and free T were measured in 8 hirsute with oligomenorrhea and 11 hirsute women with regular ovulatory cycles and compared with 20 nonhirsute women with regular cycles (control group). Serum 3 alpha-diol G was also measured during the follicular, periovulatory, and luteal phases in hirsute women with regular cycles. RESULTS: Serum levels of 3 alpha-diol G did not change during the menstrual cycle, in addition we observed that there was no difference between the levels of 3 alpha-diol G, total T, and free T in hirsute women with regular cycles when compared with normal women. These three serum androgens were elevated only in the hirsute women with oligomenorrhea. Besides, there was better correlation between total T and free T (r = 0.81) than total T and 3 alpha-diol G (r = 0.49) or free T and 3 alpha-diol G (r = 0.66). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that serum 3 alpha-diol G does not provide additional benefit as a marker of hirsutism than serum total or free T.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and pregnancy]. / Hiperplasia adrenal congênita e gravidez.

About 90% of CAH cases are due to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency. There are decreased cortisol and increased ACTH secretions; and elevated cortisol precursors and androgens. CAH is an important factor of menstrual disorders and infertility. Pregnancy is very much uncommon in the classic form, and 90% of reported cases belong to the postnatal form. The authors present two patients with classic form of CAH (21-OH deficiency) who became pregnant. They had been treated in early childhood (2-4 years old) with glucocorticoids and had surgical correction of the ambiguous external genitalia. During pregnancy, daily prednisone dose was raised to 5 mg twice, serum levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androgens were monthly measured. The 17-OHP levels remained high (about 1.6 ng/dl), and androgens (testosterone, androstenedione, SDHEA) levels remained normal. Cesarean section was performed in both cases; newborns were normal and 17-OHP was within normal limits. Adequate early replacement therapy has improved fertility and pregnancy.

Impaired mineralocorticoid hormone responses to adrenocorticotropin stimulation: additional characterization of heterozygosity for the 21-hydroxylase deficiency type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

In 12 obligate heterozygotes for the simple virilizing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency), basal and ACTH-stimulated levels of aldosterone, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone were examined. The responses to ACTH were significantly impaired (P less than 0.025 less than 0.001) compared with those of normal subjects. In addition to the often exaggerated stimulation by ACTH of the immediate precursor to 21-hydroxylation, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, the heterozygotes can now be characterized further by the impaired ACTH responses of mineralocorticoids distal to the block in the zona fasciculata; the ACTH-stimulated 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone/18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone ratio was greater than normal in 94% of the heterozygotes. A limitation of 21-hydroxylation may also exist in the zona glomerulosa.

Padrao de resposta da 17-alfa-hidroxiprogesterona ao estimulo com ACTH em heterozigotos para deficiencia da enzima 21-hidroxilase. / Response standard of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone to ACTH stimulation in heterozygotes for 21-hydroxylase deficiency

A resposta de 17-alfa-OHD e cortisol ao estimulo com ACTH em individuos heterozigotos (HTZ) e homozigostos para hiperplasia adrenal congenita por deficiencia da 21-hidroxilase foi comparada com individuos controles. Os niveis basais ou estimulos de conrtisol nao apresentaram nenhuma diferenca entre os HTZ e os controles. A 17-alfa-OHP, por sua vez, nao apresentou diferenca em condicoes basais porem 60 minutos apos estimulos houve um incremento dignificativamente maior que os controles.A relacao 17-alfa-OPH/cortisol, apos estimulo, foi significativamente maior nos HTZ Concomitantemente, foram colhidas amostras de sangue por aspiracao continua que surgeriram uma taxa de incremento mais elevado no intervalo de 0-15 minutos, antingido os valores mais altos no intervalo entre 30-60 minutos.Nas duas metodologias de coleta, observou-se uma resposta de 17-alfa-OHP apos estimulo nitidamente superior nos HTZ que no grupo controle, embora, devido a faixa de superposicao entre os 2 grupos, nao autoriza a padronizacao do teste para detectar portadores de heterozigose na populacao geral

Aplicacao clinica do radioimunoensaio da 17-alfahidroxiprogesterona. / Clinical use of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone radioimmunoassay

Os autores fazem a revisao das aplicacoes clinicas do radiomunoensaio de 17-alfa-hidroxiprogesterona, ressaltando o diagnostico da deficiencia adrenal de 21 hidroxilase