ABSTRACT
The presence of false negatives in the evaluation of patients with short stature and the variability of 24 hour growth hormone (GH) physiological studies in the normal population are well known. Therefore the reproducibility of two widely used pharmacological test was studied in normal children. Forty prepuberal children were evaluated (34 boys and 6 girls), with chronological ages ranging from 2 years 11 months to 12 years 11 months (mean: 9 years 1 month), bone ages from 3 years 2 months to 12 years 6 months (mean: 8 years 4 months) and with normal stature and growth velocity (SDS > -2) and normal body mass index (BMI < 25). Clonidine test was performed (100 micrograms/m2 surface) measuring GH (ng/ml) 0,06 and 90 min in 20 patients (Group I). Exercise-Propranolol test was performed (0,5 mg/kg weight) with basal and post-exercise GH measurements in 20 patients (Groups II). The tests were repeated at one week intervals and each child was his own control. Group I showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.78 +/- 1.59, Max Resp = 13.16 +/- 8.34; 2nd test: B = 1.17 +/- 0.51, Max Resp = 15.12 +/- 8.09. Group II showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.38 +/- 0.58, Max Resp 16.97 +/- 9.69; 2nd test: B = 1.54 +/- 1.16, Max Resp = 13.49 +/- 7.81. Wilcoxon's test did not show significant differences when comparing B vs B and Max Resp vs Max Resp in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Clonidine/pharmacology , Growth Hormone/drug effects , Growth/drug effects , Propranolol/pharmacology , Body Height , Child , Child, Preschool , Exercise , Female , Growth Hormone/blood , Growth Hormone/metabolism , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
The aim of this preliminary study was to assess variation in thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) levels using an immunoradiometric assay during the first 6 months of life of normal infants. One hundred and five normal newborns (59 females, 46 males) were evaluated for TSH, triiodothyronine and thyroxine at 48 h of life, and TSH was additionally determined at 15 days (n = 42), 30 days (n = 38), 60 days (n = 24), 90 days (n = 28), and 180 days (n = 30). Complete determinations during the total period of the study were obtained in 17 infants. Samples corresponding to the 48-hour period did not exhibit a normal distribution. In this group, percentile 3 corresponded to 0.9 mU/l, the median to 4.2 mU/l and percentile 97 to 17.7 mU/l. Levels of TSH similar to those of the normal adult population were reached between 30 and 60 days of life. Nevertheless, TSH levels of some of the children remained at higher values for a longer period. In summary, our results suggest that high TSH levels might not always indicate an underlying pathology. A critical evaluation of the normality criteria could avoid unnecessary studies and treatments.
Subject(s)
Immunoradiometric Assay , Infant, Newborn/blood , Thyrotropin/blood , Female , Humans , Infant , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Reference Values , Thyroxine/blood , Triiodothyronine/bloodABSTRACT
The presence of false negatives in the evaluation of patients with short stature and the variability of 24 hour growth hormone (GH) physiological studies in the normal population are well known. Therefore the reproducibility of two widely used pharmacological test was studied in normal children. Forty prepuberal children were evaluated (34 boys and 6 girls), with chronological ages ranging from 2 years 11 months to 12 years 11 months (mean: 9 years 1 month), bone ages from 3 years 2 months to 12 years 6 months (mean: 8 years 4 months) and with normal stature and growth velocity (SDS > -2) and normal body mass index (BMI < 25). Clonidine test was performed (100 micrograms/m2 surface) measuring GH (ng/ml) 0,06 and 90 min in 20 patients (Group I). Exercise-Propranolol test was performed (0,5 mg/kg weight) with basal and post-exercise GH measurements in 20 patients (Groups II). The tests were repeated at one week intervals and each child was his own control. Group I showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.78 +/- 1.59, Max Resp = 13.16 +/- 8.34; 2nd test: B = 1.17 +/- 0.51, Max Resp = 15.12 +/- 8.09. Group II showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.38 +/- 0.58, Max Resp 16.97 +/- 9.69; 2nd test: B = 1.54 +/- 1.16, Max Resp = 13.49 +/- 7.81. Wilcoxons test did not show significant differences when comparing B vs B and Max Resp vs Max Resp in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
ABSTRACT
Clinical, Doppler, and hormonal findings in puberal patients with unilateral and bilateral varicocele were evaluated. No correlation was found between clinical and hormonal findings. A significant increase was found in LH response to LH-RH in patients with bilateral varicocele as well as an increase in T to hCG in those with unilateral varicocele with prolonged reflux. Further longitudinal, hormonal, and Doppler studies in puberal patients might provide information about the most useful parameters to define those individuals at higher risk of having future problems.
