Frequent misdiagnosis and mismanagement of hyperprolactinemic patients before the introduction of macroprolactin screening: application of a new strict laboratory definition of macroprolactinemia.
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BACKGROUND: Macroprolactin (big big prolactin) has reduced bioactivity and is measured by immunoassays for prolactin when it accumulates in the plasma of some individuals. We applied normative data for serum prolactin after treatment of sera to remove macroprolactin to elucidate the contribution of macroprolactin to misleading diagnoses, inappropriate investigations, and unnecessary treatment. METHODS: We reviewed records of women attending a tertiary referral center who had prolactin >1000 mIU/L. Application of a reference interval to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-treated hyperprolactinemic sera identified 21 patients in whom hyperprolactinemia was accounted for entirely by the presence of macroprolactin. Presenting clinical features, diagnoses, and treatment were compared in these patients and 42 age-matched true hyperprolactinemic patients. RESULTS: Prolactin concentrations in sera of 110 healthy individuals ranged from 78 to 564 mIU/L. The range of values for the sera after PEG treatment was 70-403 mIU/L. For macroprolactinemic samples, PEG treatment decreased mean (SD) prolactin from 1524 (202) mIU/L to 202 (27) mIU/L but decreased it only from 2096 (233) mIU/L to 1705 (190) mIU/L in true hyperprolactinemic patients (P <0.01 between groups). Oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea and galactorrhea were the most common clinical features in both groups, although they occurred more frequently in true hyperprolactinemic patients (P <0.05). Serum estradiol and luteinizing hormone concentrations were significantly higher in participants with macroprolactinemia than in those with true hyperprolactinemia (P <0.05). Among participants with retrospectively identified macroprolactinemia, pituitary imaging was performed in 93% and treatment with dopamine agonist was prescribed in 87%. CONCLUSIONS: Macroprolactin is a significant cause of misdiagnosis, unnecessary investigation, and inappropriate treatment. The use of an appropriate reference interval for the PEG immunoprecipitation procedure may be of particular importance in those patients who have an excess of both macroprolactin and monomeric prolactin. (+info)
Clinical report of 28 patients with Sheehan's syndrome.
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The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical and hormonal characteristics with Sheehan's syndrome in 28 cases that we had diagnosed and followed in the last 20 years. Twenty-eight patients with Sheehan's syndrome, diagnosed and followed at our University Endocrinology Clinic in the last 20 years were reported in the study. Medical history, physical examination, routine laboratory examinations, pituitary hormone analysis, CT and/or MRI scan of the sella of the patients were reviewed. All patients had a history of massive hemorrhage at delivery and physical signs of Sheehan's syndrome. Twenty-six of them lacked postpartum milk production, followed by failure of resumption of menses. There were 9 subjects with disturbances in consciousness associated with hyponatremia on admittance. All 28 patients had secondary hypothyroidism, adrenal cortex failure, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency. Diabetes insipidus has not been found in any patient. Empty sellae were revealed in 8 patients by CT and/or MRI scan. Sheehan's syndrome is still encountered in clinical practice occasionally. If not diagnosed early, it could cause increased morbidity and mortality. The most important clues for diagnosis of Sheehan's syndrome are lack of lactation and failure of menstrual resumption after a delivery complicated with severe hemorrhage. (+info)
Dietary patterns, eating behaviors, and bone mineral density in women runners.
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Although reduced gonadal steroid hormone concentrations appear to play a major role in lower trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) in women with athletic amenorrhea, dietary deficiencies and eating behaviors may also affect BMD in women runners. To investigate this possibility, dietary patterns (7-d records), eating-disorders inventory (EDI), and BMD were examined in nine nonrunning eumenorrheic control (Contl) and 32 women runners classified as eumenorrheic (n = 19, Eumen) and oligo/amenorrheic (a group in which some were oligomenorrheic and some were amenorrheic; Ol/Am, n = 13). Runner groups had similar cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and training characteristics. Lumbar spine BMD was lower in the Ol/Am runners (-12%, P less than 0.05) but proximal femur BMD did not differ. Dietary intake and EDI subscale scores were similar among the groups. However, there was an inverse trend between EDI subscale scores for bulimia and ineffectiveness and femoral BMD in the Ol/Am runners (r = -0.62 to -0.71, P less than 0.05). These results suggest that self-reported dietary intake and/or eating behaviors do not predict reproductive-function alterations in women runners, but eating behaviors may be associated with lower BMD in Ol/Am runners. (+info)
CLINICAL AND LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF A NEW PROGESTATIONAL AGENT.
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Studies of the effects of megestrol (6-methyl, 6-dehydro, 17alpha-acetoxy progesterone) on human subjects indicated that this drug is a potent, orally effective progestational agent. The progestational effect was enhanced by estrogen. When combined with ethinyl estradiol satisfactory control of menstrual function and inhibition of ovulation were achieved. Increasing doses of this combination were effective in four patients with endometriosis. Side effects of the drug were minimal. No toxic effects on adrenal, hepatic or hematopoietic function were noted. (+info)
Mood, mileage and the menstrual cycle.
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Forty women took part in a study to determine the effects of high-intensity training and the menstrual cycle on mood states. Half of the sample were competitive distance runners following a training load of between 50 km and 130 km running per week. Seven athletes were amenorrhoeic and 13 either eumenorrhoeic or oligomenorrhoeic. The remaining 20 subjects were inactive women who menstruated regularly. The mean age of all 40 subjects was 29 years. Each subject completed two identical Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires. The 33 menstruating subjects completed both a premenstrual and a midcycle form and the amenorrhoeic athletes completed the questionnaires at a 3-week interval, which acted as a control for the potential effects of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among the menstruating females. Results showed highly significant differences in mood profiles among amenorrhoeic athletes, non-amenorrhoeic athletes and inactive women. The greatest difference was between premenstrual and midcycle measures for the inactive group. PMS appears to cause marked negative mood swings among menstruating women which the POMS inventory is sensitive in detecting. While the lower-intensity-training runners appeared to benefit psychologically from a training distance of approximately 50 km week-1, high-intensity training had an adverse effect on mood. (+info)
TRAUMATIC INTRAUTERINE ADHESIONS. (THE FRITSCH-ASHERMAN SYNDROME).
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In contrast to the foreign literature, there are no large North American studies on the sequelae to trauma and infection in the recently pregnant uterus. For this reason, the present status of these sequelae was reviewed and re-evaluated. They constitute a long-recognized, well-established clinical syndrome comprising: (1) past history of puerperal or postabortal infection and/or curettage, followed by (2) amenorrhea or hypomenorrhea, (3) dysmenorrhea, (4) habitual abortion, and (5) sterility. Knowledge of the existence of the entity is of great importance for its prevention and treatment. Strict maintenance of aseptic technique during curettage, use of a dull or serrated curette, and proper use of antibiotics are essential preventive measures. Treatment measures for this condition are solely surgical and consist of (1) dilatation and curettage, (2) hysterotomy, (3) transplantation of living tissues, and finally (4) hysterectomy. (+info)
INDUCTION OF OVULATION.
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Every effort should be made to find the cause of anovulation since specific therapy directed at correction of a specific hormonal deficiency or excess is, of course, much more effective than any empiric treatment. Moreover, some patients with disorders of ovulation may have serious, even fatal, underlying disorders. The use of thyroid or cortisone has been disappointing except in the treatment of an overt deficiency of thyroid or cortisone or an excess of adrenal androgens. Estrogens and progestational agents have not been consistently effective in the induction of ovulation. The use of clomiphene citrate, which apparently stimulates the release of gonadotropins, and the use of purified gonadotropins of human origin have been quite successful in the induction of ovulation in a variety of disorders of ovarian function. Because of real and potential hazards, the use of these new agents should be restricted to women for whom pregnancy is the primary goal or in whom standard methods of therapy have failed. Neither drug has been released by the Food and Drug Administration for routine clinical use. (+info)
Anatomic and functional results of laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid colpoplasty in women with Rokitansky's syndrome.
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BACKGROUND: The Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a rare congenital cause of primary amenorrhea, due to utero-vaginal agenesis. Several surgical techniques have been used to create a neovagina. Neovagina construction with a sigmoid graft appears to be the best option, as it offers adequate length and natural lubrication, allowing early intercourse. However, few data are available on the complications, anatomic and functional results of laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid colpoplasty. METHODS: From September 1995 to November 2002, seven women with the MRKH syndrome underwent laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid grafting. RESULTS: The mean operating time was 312 min (range 220-450 min). The mean fall in haemoglobin was 3.6 g/dl (range 2-4.4 g/dl). Blood transfusion was never necessary. The only perioperative complications were one urinary tract infection and one vulvar haematoma not requiring drainage. The mean hospital stay was 7.7 days (range 6-12 days). The mean length of the neovagina was 11.5 cm (range 7-15 cm), and no shrinkage occurred during follow-up. The neovaginal introitus admitted two fingers in breadth in five of the seven patients. Dilation of the introitus was required in the other two women. None of the four women who had intercourse experienced dyspareunia or discomfort. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the feasibility of laparoscopic-perineal neovagina construction by sigmoid colpoplasty, when performed by surgeons with extensive experience in both gynaecological and gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery. The anatomic and functional results were good. (+info)