3 research outputs found
â-thalassemia and gonadal axis: a cross-sectional, clinical study in a Greek population
ABSTRACT â-thalassemia (â-thal) is characterized by disturbances of the reproductive system. The aim of the present study was: 1) to assess the hypothalamic pituitary -gonadal axis in patients with â-thal in relation to their phenotype and 2) to determine prognostic features of current gonadal status. We studied 135 patients (67 males and 68 females) with â-thal through history, physical examination, spermiograms and GnRH test. These patients were divided into â-thal major (51 males and 62 females) and â-thal intermedia phenotypes (16 males and 6 females). Male patients with â-thal major were subdivided into three groups a) eugonadal (35%, Tanners stage V, normal testicular volume, normal spermiograms, normal basal and stimulated hormone values), b) patients with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) of late onset (24%, Tanners stage II-V, low-normal testicular volume, abnormal spermiograms, normal basal gonadotrophin values and abnormal response to GnRH test) and c) patients with HH of early onset (41%, Tanners stage I, small testicular volume, abnormal spermiograms, abnormal basal and stimulated hormone values). Female patients with â-thal major were subdivided into: a) eugonadal (32%, Tanners stage V, regular menstruation, normal basal and stimulated hormone values), b) patients with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) of late onset (34%, Tanners stage II-V, secondary amenorrhea, subnormal basal and stimulated gonadotrophin values) and c) patients with HH of early onset (34%, Tanners stage I, primary amenorrhea, subnormal basal and stimulated hormone values). Patients with â-thal intermedia were subdivided into eugonadal (75% of males -33% of females) and hypogonadal (25% of males -67% of females). Current gonadal status could not be predicted by means of transfusion or chelation parameters. In conclusion, â-thal patients could be eugonadal or develop early or late onset HH. â-thal intermedia patients have a more favorable profile than â-thal major individuals. Current gonadal status of â-thal patients cannot be predicted by means of history, clinical or laboratory parameters
Decreased active, total and altered active to total ghrelin ratio in normal weight women with the more severe form of polycystic ovary syndrome
Objective: To assess total, active and active to total serum ghrelin
ratio in normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and
in healthy ovulatory control women.Study design: The study included 50
normal weight women with PCOS with a mean age of 23.70 +/- 4.99 years
and 10 control women with a mean age of 30 +/- 5.80 years. The diagnosis
of PCOS was based on the presence of biochemical hyperandrogenemia,
chronic anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology according to the
Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Serum
total and active ghrelin were measured by RIA, using commercially
available kits.
Results: A significantly lower serum active/total ghrelin ratio was
noted in the more severe form of PCOS with hyperandrogenemia, chronic
anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology. Both total and active
serum ghrelin levels were negatively correlated to hirsutism score, to
plasma glucose levels and to QUICKI and HOMA-IR indices of Insulin
Resistance. A statistically significant difference was detected between
the more severe and the milder forms of PCOS, concerning serum levels of
total ghrelin (p = 0.017), active ghrelin (p = 0.007) and the
active/total ghrelin ratio (p = 0.026).
Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate an altered
active to total ghrelin ratio, as well as a tendency towards lower both
total and active fasting serum ghrelin levels in normal weight PCOS,
more pronounced in the more severe forms of the syndrome. (C) 2009
Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved