RESUMO

Ante la baja frecuencia del carcinoma medular de tiroides (CMT), en el Departamento de Tiroides de SAEM nos propusimos realizar un estudio de cohorte, observacional, retrospectivo y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron 219 pacientes con diagnóstico histológico de CMT. El 65 % fueron mujeres, la edad promedio fue de 39 ± 20 años (1 a 84 años); 44-% de los casos fueron familiares. Las formas de presentación más frecuentes fueron nódulo tiroideo (58 %) y pesquisa genética por antecedente familiar (22 %). Si bien la citología tiroidea fue diagnóstica de CMT en el 39 % de los casos, fue determinante de indicación quirúrgica en el 79 %. En el 47 % de los pacientes el diagnóstico de CMT se obtuvo previamente al tratamiento quirúrgico inicial por punción aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF), estudio genético o nivel de calcitonina (CT)). El 65 % se presentó en estadios avanzados (TNM III y IV). El estudio del protoncogen RET se realizó en 162 pacientes (74 %). En el 49 % se observó mutación siendo la más frecuente (76 %) en el codón 634. La forma hereditaria más frecuentemente observada fue el síndrome de neoplasia endocrina múltiple (NEM) 2A (57 % de los casos familiares), seguida por carcinoma medular familiar (25 %) y NEM 2B (13 %). Los casos familiares tuvieron menor edad al diagnóstico y mayor frecuencia de diagnóstico prequirúrgico. Los casos índice tuvieron mayor edad al momento del diagnóstico, mayores niveles de antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA) y CT prequirúrgicos, mayor proporción de estadios III y IV y mayor porcentaje de evidencia de enfermedad al momento de la última consulta que aquellos detectados por pesquisa. En 143 pacientes (65 %) se obtuvieron registros completos de seguimiento en los que se analizaron los factores relacionados con la evolución. La mediana de seguimiento fue de 44 meses: fallecieron 21 pacientes (14,6 %) y 122 (86 %) viven; 76 de estos (54 %) se encuentran libres de enfermedad. El grupo con evidencia de enfermedad se presentó en estadios más avanzados. Resultaron factores de mayor riesgo para evidencia de enfermedad: sexo masculino, CMT esporádico, niveles elevados de CT prequirúrgicos, estadio IV y presencia de metástasis. Los niveles de CT posquirúrgicos fueron menores en aquellos pacientes que en la evolución final no presentaron evidencia de enfermedad. El principal factor pronóstico de la evolución de los pacientes con CMT fue el estadio de presentación, determinando la importancia del diagnóstico precoz con el fin de poder implementar un tratamiento quirúrgico curativo en estadios menos avanzados.(AU)

Due to the low frequency of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), an observational, cohort, retrospective multicenter study was conducted at the Thyroid Department of the Endocrine and Metabolism Argentine Society (SAEM). We included 219 patients with histologically proven MTC, with a mean age of 39 ± 20 yr (range 1-84 years). Sixty five percent were women and 44% were familial cases. The most common presentations were thyroid nodule (58 %) and genetic screening due to family history (22 %). In 39 % of patients, diagnosis of MTC was made by fine needle aspiration, but cytology led to surgery in 79 %. In 47 % of patients, MTC was diagnosed by cytology, calcitonin (CT) levels or genetic studies prior to initial surgery. Sixty five percent of patients had advanced stages of the disease (TNM III or IV) at diagnosis. Proto-oncogene RET was studied in 162 patients (74 %). In 49% a mutation was reported, most frequently in codon 634 (76 %). Regarding hereditary forms of MTC, MEN 2A was the most frequent (57%), followed by familial MTC in 25 % and MEN 2B in 13 % of cases. Familial cases were younger subjects and had more frequently a pre-surgery diagnosis. Index cases were older, with higher CEA and CT levels, presented in more advanced stages and had more frequently evidence of disease at final assessment than patients who were diagnosed by genetic screening. Follow-up records of 143 patients were analyzed (65%); median time was 44 months; 21 patients died (14.6 %) and 122 survived (86 %), 76 showed no evidence of disease (NED) (54 %). High risk factors for evidence of disease at the final evaluation were: male gender, sporadic MTC, higher CT pre-surgery levels, stage IV and metastasis. Post surgery CT levels were lower in patients with NED. Stage at initial diagnosis was the main prognostic factor in patients with MTC, determining the importance of early detection for performing curative surgery in less advanced stages.(AU)

RESUMO

Ante la baja frecuencia del carcinoma medular de tiroides (CMT), en el Departamento de Tiroides de SAEM nos propusimos realizar un estudio de cohorte, observacional, retrospectivo y multicéntrico. Se incluyeron 219 pacientes con diagnóstico histológico de CMT. El 65 % fueron mujeres, la edad promedio fue de 39 ± 20 años (1 a 84 años); 44-% de los casos fueron familiares. Las formas de presentación más frecuentes fueron nódulo tiroideo (58 %) y pesquisa genética por antecedente familiar (22 %). Si bien la citología tiroidea fue diagnóstica de CMT en el 39 % de los casos, fue determinante de indicación quirúrgica en el 79 %. En el 47 % de los pacientes el diagnóstico de CMT se obtuvo previamente al tratamiento quirúrgico inicial por punción aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF), estudio genético o nivel de calcitonina (CT)). El 65 % se presentó en estadios avanzados (TNM III y IV). El estudio del protoncogen RET se realizó en 162 pacientes (74 %). En el 49 % se observó mutación siendo la más frecuente (76 %) en el codón 634. La forma hereditaria más frecuentemente observada fue el síndrome de neoplasia endocrina múltiple (NEM) 2A (57 % de los casos familiares), seguida por carcinoma medular familiar (25 %) y NEM 2B (13 %). Los casos familiares tuvieron menor edad al diagnóstico y mayor frecuencia de diagnóstico prequirúrgico. Los casos índice tuvieron mayor edad al momento del diagnóstico, mayores niveles de antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA) y CT prequirúrgicos, mayor proporción de estadios III y IV y mayor porcentaje de evidencia de enfermedad al momento de la última consulta que aquellos detectados por pesquisa. En 143 pacientes (65 %) se obtuvieron registros completos de seguimiento en los que se analizaron los factores relacionados con la evolución. La mediana de seguimiento fue de 44 meses: fallecieron 21 pacientes (14,6 %) y 122 (86 %) viven; 76 de estos (54 %) se encuentran libres de enfermedad. El grupo con evidencia de enfermedad se presentó en estadios más avanzados. Resultaron factores de mayor riesgo para evidencia de enfermedad: sexo masculino, CMT esporádico, niveles elevados de CT prequirúrgicos, estadio IV y presencia de metástasis. Los niveles de CT posquirúrgicos fueron menores en aquellos pacientes que en la evolución final no presentaron evidencia de enfermedad. El principal factor pronóstico de la evolución de los pacientes con CMT fue el estadio de presentación, determinando la importancia del diagnóstico precoz con el fin de poder implementar un tratamiento quirúrgico curativo en estadios menos avanzados.

Due to the low frequency of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), an observational, cohort, retrospective multicenter study was conducted at the Thyroid Department of the Endocrine and Metabolism Argentine Society (SAEM). We included 219 patients with histologically proven MTC, with a mean age of 39 ± 20 yr (range 1-84 years). Sixty five percent were women and 44% were familial cases. The most common presentations were thyroid nodule (58 %) and genetic screening due to family history (22 %). In 39 % of patients, diagnosis of MTC was made by fine needle aspiration, but cytology led to surgery in 79 %. In 47 % of patients, MTC was diagnosed by cytology, calcitonin (CT) levels or genetic studies prior to initial surgery. Sixty five percent of patients had advanced stages of the disease (TNM III or IV) at diagnosis. Proto-oncogene RET was studied in 162 patients (74 %). In 49% a mutation was reported, most frequently in codon 634 (76 %). Regarding hereditary forms of MTC, MEN 2A was the most frequent (57%), followed by familial MTC in 25 % and MEN 2B in 13 % of cases. Familial cases were younger subjects and had more frequently a pre-surgery diagnosis. Index cases were older, with higher CEA and CT levels, presented in more advanced stages and had more frequently evidence of disease at final assessment than patients who were diagnosed by genetic screening. Follow-up records of 143 patients were analyzed (65%); median time was 44 months; 21 patients died (14.6 %) and 122 survived (86 %), 76 showed no evidence of disease (NED) (54 %). High risk factors for evidence of disease at the final evaluation were: male gender, sporadic MTC, higher CT pre-surgery levels, stage IV and metastasis. Post surgery CT levels were lower in patients with NED. Stage at initial diagnosis was the main prognostic factor in patients with MTC, determining the importance of early detection for performing curative surgery in less advanced stages.

RESUMO

La melatonina constituye un integrante fundamental del denominado "reloj biolgico" y las alteraciones hormonales sueo-dependientes. Siendo la secrecin fisiolgica de GH, predominantemente nocturna, evaluamos en un grupo de nios y adultos deficitarios de GH (GHD) sin y con tratamiento sustitutivo, la secrecin nocturna de melatonina. Estudiamos 44 pacientes GHD: Grupo a (Ga): Nios sin tratamiento; Grupo b (Gb): Nios con tratamiento con GH (0.16 mg/Kg/semana, dosis estable por mnimo de 6 meses); Grupo c (Gc): Adultos sin tratamiento y Grupo d (Gd): Adultos con tratamiento con GH (0.1- 0.8 mg/da, para mantener IGF1 entre 0 y +2 SDS, dosis estable por mnimo de 6 meses). Todos los pacientes con dficits hormonales asociados estaban adecuadamente sustituidos. La produccin de melatonina fue evaluada a travs de la medicin de su principal metabolito urinario: 6-Sulfatoximelatonina (6-SM), dosado por radioinmunoensayo, en muestras nocturnas (6PM a 8AM). Los niveles de 6-SM nocturna expresados como μg/unidad de tiempo fueron (media SEM) para el grupo peditrico: Ga = 6.50 ( 5.10) y Gb = 8.21 ( 5.31) (Test de Mann-Whitney, p = 0.82). Para los adultos fueron: Gc = 2.99 ( 1.17) y Gd = 6.60 ( 2.00) (Test de Mann-Whitney, p = 0.35). En algunas alteraciones hipotlamo-hipofisarias han sido descriptas modificaciones del patrn secretorio de melatonina, pero no se han caracterizado en forma completa an, las posibles variaciones en pacientes con GHD. Si bien en las condiciones de este estudio, no hallamos diferencias en la excrecin nocturna de 6-SM entre los GHD no tratados y los tratados en ambos grupos, ello no invalida la existencia de posibles diferencias que podran detectarse estudiando la secrecin diurna de melatonina y su diferencia con la secrecin nocturna. Todo ello podr contribuir al conocimiento de los posibles desrdenes cronobiolgicos involucrados en la deficiencia de GH.

Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, constitutes a landmark in neuroendocrine integration. The relationship between melatonin and different pituitary hormones and sex steroids has been studied; however, the relationship between growth hormone (GH) and melatonin remains unclear. Considering that melatonin is an essential component of the so-called "biological clock", related to circadian rhythm, day-night cycle, and sleep-dependent hormonal alterations, and knowing that physiological GH secretion occurs predominantly at night, we decided to evaluate nocturnal melatonin secretion in a group of GH-deficient children and adults on and off replacement therapy. Patients and Methods: We studied 44 patients with GH deficiency (GHD), duly confirmed by pharmacological tests, divided into 4 groups: Group a (Ga ): untreated GHD children; Group b (Gb): GHD children on GH replacement therapy (0.16 mg/Kg/week, stable dose for at least 6 months); Group c (Gc): untreated GHD adults and Group d (Gd): GHD adults on GH replacement therapy (0.1- 0.8 mg/day, to maintain IGF1 between 0 and +2 SDS, stable dose for at least 6 months). All associated hormonal deficits were adequately replaced. Melatonin production was evaluated by measuring the excretion of its major urinary metabolite: 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SM). Urinary 6-SM was measured (radioimmunoassay, Stockgrand Ltd, Guildford, UK) in nocturnal samples (6PM to 8AM) in all patients. Results: Nocturnal 6-SM levels expressed as μg/unit of time were (mean SEM) for the pediatric group: Ga = 6.50 ( 5.10) and Gb = 8.21 ( 5.31) (Mann Whitney test, p = 0.82). For adults: Gc = 2.99 ( 1.17) and Gd = 6.60 ( 2.00) (Mann Whitney test, p = 0.35). Discussion and Conclusions: It is difficult to characterize the relationship between melatonin and GH in healthy individuals; however, the administration of intravenous melatonin stimulates GH secretion in normal adults. In some hypothalamic-pituitary alterations, changes in the secretory pattern of melatonin have been reported, but possible variations in GHD patients have not been thoroughly characterized yet. This led us to evaluate 6-SM concentrations in GH deficient children and adults on and off adequate replacement therapy. One of the major aspects of this study has been the evaluation of baseline 6-SM concentrations, with no physiological or pharmacological stimulation. Even if under the conditions of this study we found no differences in nocturnal excretion of 6-SM between untreated and treated GHD individuals in both groups, this does not rule out the potential existence of differences that might be detected by studying diurnal melatonin secretion and its difference with nocturnal secretion. Such studies may contribute to an understanding of potential chronobiological disorders involved in GH deficiency.

RESUMO

El presente es un trabajo retrospectivo y multicéntrico para evaluar el valor de la Tiroglobulina (Tg) medida preablación como predictor de evolución en 274 pacientes con Carcinoma Diferenciado de Tiroides (CDT). Se incluyeron pacientes con anticuerpos a Tg (TgAb) negativos, tratados con tiroidectomía total, ablación del remanente, con una evolución mayor a 2 años y a los cuales se les midió la Tg bajo estímulo de TSH. Se correlacionó la Tg preablación con el primer control de Tg bajo estímulo de TSH, con el estadio de TNM y con el estado de la enfermedad a Tiempo Final (TF) de seguimiento. Según el TNM, 205 pacientes estuvieron en Estadio 1, 19 en 2, 34 en 3 y 16 en 4. A T F, 172 pacientes estuvieron Libres de Enfermedad (LE), 43 con Enfermedad Dudosa (ED) y 59 con Enfermedad Persistente/Recurrente (EP). Agrupamos la población en rangos de Tg de 0.5-2.0; 2.1-10.0; 10.1-40.0, 40.1-100 y > 100 ng/mL. No hubo asociación significativa entre la Tg preablación y el estadio del TNM en tanto que la correlación con la Tg estimulada se observó solo en los pacientes con Tg < 2.0 ng/mL ya que el 86.7 % se mantuvo en ese rango. El resto de los grupos mostró, en respuesta a la ablación, una disminución de la Tg en porcentajes variables mientras que otros la aumentaron. Relacionando la Tg preablación con el estado de enfermedad a TF observamos que los pacientes con valores =10 ng/mL llegaban en mayor proporción LE al T F. El estadio de TNM mostró correlación con el estado de enfermedad a TF estando LE los de menor riesgo. En pacientes con CDT, los niveles de Tg preablación menores a 10 ng/mL son un marcador de buen pronóstico. Consideramos que la Tg preablación es útil para inferir la probable evolución de los paciente y una herramienta auxiliar para cálculo de riesgo del paciente. Los autores declaran no tener conflictos de interés.

We present a retrospective and multicentric study to evaluate the measurement of preablation Thyroglobulin (Tg) as a predictor of the evolution of 274 patients with DTC. All the patients included in the study had negative TgAb, were treated with total thyroidectomy, ablation of the remnant tissue and an evolution period of more than 2 years. We measured preablation Tg under stimulation with endogenous TSH. We correlated the preablation Tg with that at the first control at LT4 withdrawal, with TNM stratification and the final statement of the disease at Final Time (FT). At the end of the evolution period, patients were classified as: free of disease (n=172), with doubtful disease (n=43) and with persistent disease (n=50). According to their Tg levels, patients were subdivided the following ranges of Tg: 0.5-2.0; 2.1-10.0; 10.1-40.0; 40.1-100 and >100 ng/mL. There was not significant correlation between preablation Tg and TNM stratification. We observed correlation between preablation Tg and the first stimulated Tg =2.0 ng/mL as 86.7 % of the patients persisted in this range while the rest of them either moved to a lower or a higher range in response to the ablation. Considering the relationship between preablation Tg and the state of disease at FT, we found out that most of the patients with preablation Tg <10.0 ng/mL were free of disease. TNM classification correlated with the final state of the disease, with low risk patients having a high probability of being free of disease. In patients with CDT, preablation Tg below =10.0 ng/mL could be a marker of good prognosis. We consider that preablation Tg can be a valuable tool to predict the evolution and risk of patients with CDT. No competing financial interests exist.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term evolution of cardiovascular parameters, lipid metabolism, body composition and bone mass in untreated and treated adult growth hormone deficient patients (AGHD) comparing the differences between the two groups and within each group. DESIGN: Seventy-one AGHD-patients were enrolled; 48 received growth hormone (GH) therapy: treated group (TG) and 23 received no GH therapy: control group (CG). In the TG, 22 were childhood-onset (CO) GH-deficient patients, 18-44 years (12 males) and 26 were adult-onset (AO) GH-deficient patients, 27-66 years (10 males). In the CG, 10 patients were AGHD-CO, 20-43 years (8 males) and 13 were AGHD-AO, 25-70 years (8 males). For patients in the TG, GH was administered at a starting dose of 0.1mg/day, adjusted to maintain IGF-I levels between 0 and 2 SDS for gender and age. At baseline and during the 4th year of replacement therapy or follow-up, the following parameters were evaluated: body mass index, waist circumference, blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 2-D echocardiogram with mitral Doppler, bone mineral density (total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck), bone mineral content (BMC) and body composition. RESULTS: In the TG, there was a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (-4.0+/-1.8 mmHg, p<0.035) and an increase in blood glucose levels (0.58+/-0.19 mmol/L, p<0.025), bone mineral content (0.2+/-0.0 kg, p<0.015) and bone mineral density of lumbar spine (0.3+/-0.1 SDS, p<0.015) and femoral neck (0.4+/-0.1 SDS, p<0.001). All other variables did not show significant changes in any of the two groups. At year 4, changes (delta) differed between patients in the TG and those in the CG with regard to cholesterol levels (TG: -0.27+/-0.16 mmol/L, CG: 0.34+/-0.23 mmol/L, p<0.045), blood glucose (TG: 0.58+/-0.19 mmol/L, CG: -0.12+/-0.19 mmol/L, p<0.025) and BMC (TG: 0.2+/-0.0 g, CG: 0.0+/-0.0 g, p<0.015). An assessment of the changes in variables over time, with and without therapy, considering CO and AO separately, revealed a significant difference in total cholesterol levels during year 4 in CO patients CO (TG: -0.28+/-0.25 mmol/L and CG: 0.84+/-0.25 mmol/L, p<0.015). No differences related to the time of onset of GHD were found in changes in the remaining variables studied. There were no differences related to gender, GHD etiology or the presence of other pituitary hormone deficiencies in the evolution of the parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Our 4-year study in GH deficient adults showed significant beneficial effects on some cardiovascular risk parameters and BMC in treated patients. However, there are still unsettled issues regarding long-term benefits and these patients should be carefully monitored.

Assuntos

RESUMO

We evaluated long-term replacement therapy outcomes in various subsets of patients with adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency (AGHD) as well as the patients susceptibility to adverse events. Fifty-nine patients with AGHD were evaluated, 27 with childhood onset (CO) (18-44 years old, 12 females) and 32 with adult onset (AO) (27-70 years, 18 females). A significant improvement in HDL-cholesterol was observed in AGHD-AO males (basal: 41.3 +/- 12.9 mg/dl, intratreatment: 47.5 +/- 13.2 mg/dl, p = 0.009). However, individual analyses showed that total cholesterol decreased below 240 mg/dl in 33% of AGHD-CO patients and in 50% of AGHD-AO patients, and below 200 mg/dl in 67% of AGHD-CO patients and in 29% of AGHD-AO patients; in the AGHD-AO group, normalization of LDL-cholesterol (< or = 160 mg/dl) and triglycerides (< or = 200 mg/dl) was found in 100% and 50% of patients, respectively; the total cholesterol/HDL ratio decreased below 4.5 in 20% of AGHD-CO patients and in 25% of AGHD-AO patients. The cardiological evaluation showed a significant intra- and interindividual heterogeneity, but cardiac mass improved in patients with a baseline cardiac mass index below 60 g/m2. Markers of bone apposition increased significantly, while bone resorption markers were found to remain unchanged during treatment. A correlation was found between increased bone mineral content and lean body mass (p = 0.0009). Susceptibility to adverse events was not found to be dependent on gender or on the time of onset of the deficiency. Our findings would appear to confirm that a more severe metabolic impairment is correlated with a better therapeutic outcome.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

We evaluated long-term replacement therapy outcomes in various subsets of patients with adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency (AGHD) as well as the patients susceptibility to adverse events. Fifty-nine patients with AGHD were evaluated, 27 with childhood onset (CO) (18-44 years old, 12 females) and 32 with adult onset (AO) (27-70 years, 18 females). A significant improvement in HDL-cholesterol was observed in AGHD-AO males (basal: 41.3 +/- 12.9 mg/dl, intratreatment: 47.5 +/- 13.2 mg/dl, p = 0.009). However, individual analyses showed that total cholesterol decreased below 240 mg/dl in 33% of AGHD-CO patients and in 50% of AGHD-AO patients, and below 200 mg/dl in 67% of AGHD-CO patients and in 29% of AGHD-AO patients; in the AGHD-AO group, normalization of LDL-cholesterol (< or = 160 mg/dl) and triglycerides (< or = 200 mg/dl) was found in 100% and 50% of patients, respectively; the total cholesterol/HDL ratio decreased below 4.5 in 20% of AGHD-CO patients and in 25% of AGHD-AO patients. The cardiological evaluation showed a significant intra- and interindividual heterogeneity, but cardiac mass improved in patients with a baseline cardiac mass index below 60 g/m2. Markers of bone apposition increased significantly, while bone resorption markers were found to remain unchanged during treatment. A correlation was found between increased bone mineral content and lean body mass (p = 0.0009). Susceptibility to adverse events was not found to be dependent on gender or on the time of onset of the deficiency. Our findings would appear to confirm that a more severe metabolic impairment is correlated with a better therapeutic outcome.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

We evaluated long-term replacement therapy outcomes in various subsets of patients with adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency (AGHD) as well as the patients' susceptibility to adverse events. Fifty-nine patients with AGHD were evaluated, 27 with childhood onset (CO) (18-44 years old, 12 females) and 32 with adult onset (AO) (27-70 years, 18 females). A significant improvement in HDL-cholesterol was observed in AGHD-AO males (basal: 41.3 +/- 12.9 mg/dl, intratreatment: 47.5 +/- 13.2 mg/dl, p = 0.009). However, individual analyses showed that total cholesterol decreased below 240 mg/dl in 33% of AGHD-CO patients and in 50% of AGHD-AO patients, and below 200 mg/dl in 67% of AGHD-CO patients and in 29% of AGHD-AO patients; in the AGHD-AO group, normalization of LDL-cholesterol (< or = 160 mg/dl) and triglycerides (< or = 200 mg/dl) was found in 100% and 50% of patients, respectively; the total cholesterol/HDL ratio decreased below 4.5 in 20% of AGHD-CO patients and in 25% of AGHD-AO patients. The cardiological evaluation showed a significant intra- and interindividual heterogeneity, but cardiac mass improved in patients with a baseline cardiac mass index below 60 g/m2. Markers of bone apposition increased significantly, while bone resorption markers were found to remain unchanged during treatment. A correlation was found between increased bone mineral content and lean body mass (p = 0.0009). Susceptibility to adverse events was not found to be dependent on gender or on the time of onset of the deficiency. Our findings would appear to confirm that a more severe metabolic impairment is correlated with a better therapeutic outcome.

Assuntos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To study hormonal and histological parameters of paediatric-adolescent varicocele in order to know certain aspects of its natural history, in an attempt to find prognostic markers of testicular damage. DESIGN AND METHODS: In a prospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated 93 children and adolescents with left unilateral varicocele and 29 healthy males as control group. All of them were classified according to Tanner stage. Scrotal Doppler in both testes and GnRH and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) tests were performed in all subjects. Surgery was performed in 28 patients and homolateral testicular biopsy in 18. RESULTS: Hormonal measurements of patients with varicocele were compared with a control group for each Tanner stage. Testicular biopsy specimens were analysed by light and electron microscopy. We only observed statistical differences in Tanner III patients in basal FSH (median and range) controls=1.70 (1.10-3.70) IU/l vs varicocele=4.20 (1.00-7.50) IU/l, P<0.05 and in Tanner IV patients in LH post-GnRH: controls=11.0 (7.50-15.0) IU/l vs varicocele=18.0 (5.10-29.0) IU/l, P<0.05 and in testosterone post-hCG: controls=9.50 (7.7-10.0) ng/ml vs varicocele=12.0 (6.2-23.0) ng/ml, P<0.01. No correlation was found between the various clinical grades of varicocele and hormonal measurements for each Tanner stage. No statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-operative hormonal findings, either in basal levels or in maximal responses. On the other hand, no morphological abnormalities were observed by electron microscopy in germ cells, tubular wall and interstice. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be no reliable biochemical marker in children and adolescents that may predict impaired testicular function. A significant size discrepancy between both testes, testicular pain and a hyperresponse to GnRH stimulation should continue to be, for the time being, the indications for surgery.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Asymptomatic hyperprolactinemias associated with altered proportions of molecular forms of circulating prolactin (PRL) have been reported in adults. The scarce references available in children and adolescents prompted us to report our experience in the evaluation and follow-up of patients with macroprolactinemia. We studied 5 patients (1 male and 4 females) aged 11.6-18 years with incidentally discovered asymptomatic hyperprolactinemia. Patients underwent repeated evaluations for a period of 3 months to 8 years, and their PRL levels remained elevated (34.4-516 ng/ml). Structural variants of PRL >/=45 kD ranged between 58.9 and 78.6%. Chromatographic profiles showed increases in Big Big PRL in the 5 cases, ranging between 40 and 72% (normal: 9-21%), and in Big PRL in 3 cases, ranging between 30.0 and 32.6% (normal: 5-25%). Little PRL was decreased in all cases, ranging between 20.6 and 41.1% (normal: 50-90%). In conclusion, upon detection of hyperprolactinemia with no clinical manifestations and no alteration of the remaining endocrine functions, macroprolactinemia should be considered as a possible diagnosis. The confirmed absence of functional alterations during the follow-up would favor a no-treatment approach and at the same time avoid repeating imaging studies.

Assuntos