Pituitary function in patients with newly diagnosed untreated systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2004-12, Vol.63 (12), p.1677-1680
• Main Authors: Köller, M D, Templ, E, Riedl, M, Clodi, M, Wagner, O, Smolen, J S, Luger, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTH; adrenocorticotropin; Adult; Age; Aged; Androgens; Autoimmune diseases; Biological and medical sciences; coefficient of variation; Concise Report; corticotropin-releasing hormone; CRH; dehydroepiandrosterone; DHEA; Disease; ECLAM; endocrine function; European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement; Female; follicle stimulating hormone; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; FSH; GHRH; GnRH; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; growth hormone; growth hormone-releasing hormone; Growth hormones; healthy controls; HPA; Humans; hypogonadism; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology; interleukin; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; luteinising hormone; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pathogenesis; Patients; Pituitary Function Tests - methods; Pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - physiopathology; pituitary glands; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology; PRL; prolactin; Prolactin - blood; rheumatoid arthritis; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; SLE; SLE Disease Activity Index; SLEDAI; Studies; systemic lupus erythematosus; Testosterone; Thyroid gland; thyroid stimulating hormone; Thyrotropin - blood; thyrotropin-releasing hormone; thyroxine; TNF; TRH; TSH; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; tumour necrosis factor; Womens health
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2003.018325

Objectives: To determine whether hormonal dysfunction involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, prolactin (PRL) secretion, and sex hormone status contribute to development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: 11 patients with SLE and 9 healthy controls were tested for their total anterior pituitary gland reserve by simultaneous injection of corticotropin-, growth hormone- (GH), thyrotropin-, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Serum concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, GH, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), PRL, luteinising hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured at baseline and after injection. Baseline values of oestradiol, testosterone, and thyroxine were determined. Results: Basal and stimulated serum concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, GH, and PRL were similar in both groups. In contrast, despite similar basal thyroxine levels the TSH response to TRH was significantly higher in patients than in controls. LH and FSH levels in premenopausal female patients of both groups were identical. In contrast, two of the three male patients were hypogonadal without compensatory increases of basal LH and FSH levels, but they retained excessive stimulatory capacity in response to GnRH. Conclusion: No significant alteration of the HPA axis was found in patients with SLE, which is inadequate in view of the continuing inflammation. GH and PRL secretion were normal. The pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-gonadal axes were affected in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated SLE.