Resumption of luteinizing hormone pulsatility and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy in a hydrocephalic patient

Measuring luteinising hormone pulsatility with a robotic aptamer-enabled electrochemical reader

Normal reproductive functioning is critically dependent on pulsatile secretion of luteinising hormone (LH). Assessment of LH pulsatility is important for the clinical diagnosis of reproductive disorders, but current methods are hampered by frequent blood sampling coupled to expensive serial immunochemical analysis. Here, we report the development and application of a Robotic APTamer-enabled Electrochemical Reader (RAPTER) electrochemical analysis system to determine LH pulsatility. Through selective evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), we identify DNA aptamers that bind specifically to LH and not to related hormones. The aptamers are integrated into electrochemical aptamer-based (E-AB) sensors on a robotic platform. E-AB enables rapid, sensitive and repeatable determination of LH concentration profiles. Bayesian Spectrum Analysis is applied to determine LH pulsatility in three distinct patient cohorts. This technology has the potential to transform the clinical care of patients with reproductive disorders and could be developed to allow real-time in vivo hormone monitoring.

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a consequence of Chiari-I malformation

Chronic hydrocephalus, most commonly the result of aqueduct stenosis, is associated with both primary and secondary amenorrhea. Only six cases of secondary amenorrhea have been reported to date. We describe a women with cystic fibrosis who presented with secondary amenorrhea as a consequence of Chiari-I malformation and resultant hydrocephalus. The biochemical picture was characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Resolution of the amenorrhea was observed to occur following 3rd ventriculostomy.

Reproductive implications of endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the treatment of hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare reproductive function after two neurosurgical procedures for treating non-neoplastic hydrocephalus; endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VP).

STUDY DESIGN

A cohort of 96 women who underwent neurosurgical procedures to treat non-neoplastic hydrocephalus at the Cleveland Clinic between January 1995 and January 2004 was identified. A follow up mailed survey was sent to all identified women between 15 and 45 years of age. In addition, phone interviews were performed to complete the required data. Clinical, laboratory and operative details were collected from 69 participants.

RESULTS

There was a two-fold significant increase in the menstrual irregularities after the procedure in the ETV group [5/52(10%)-10/52(19%), P=0.03] while those treated with VP shunt maintained the same menstrual pattern postoperatively. The rate of pregnancy was higher in the VP group compared to the ETV group, but did not reach statistical significance [8/17(47%) vs. 17/52(33%), P=0.462]. Similarly, the rate of term pregnancies was higher in the VP group compared to ETV group [8/8(100%) vs. 13/17(76%), P=0.269], which reflected a higher spontaneous miscarriage rate in ETV compared to VP group [4/17(33%) vs. 0/8(0%), P=0.269].

CONCLUSION

ETV appears to alter reproductive function postoperatively. In patients who establish a pregnancy, abortion rates seem to be higher in the ETV group; however, a prospective study will be required to validate these observations.

Endocrine evaluation after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in children

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a standard procedure for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus in children. Main part of the procedure is the perforation of the third ventricle floor (tuber cinereum). This structure is part of the hypothalamic-pituitary neuronal network of cerebral endocrine regulation. There are no systematic data available about the endocrine status after ETV in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 20 children who had undergone ETV. Examination included laboratory tests (adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin, insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1], IGF-binding protein 3 [IGFBP-3], fT3, fT4, thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], serum osmolarity, electrolytes, glucose, urea, follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH], and testosterone in selected patients), measurement of weight, height, and head circumference, and physical examination. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of Kiel University.

RESULTS

In seven patients, prolactin was moderately elevated. One patient demonstrated a significantly increased prolactin (56.3 ng/ml). In all eight patients, this was the only laboratory value that was out of the normal range; all other parameters were normal. Three other patients showed one abnormal parameter (decrease in FSH and LH, increase in TSH, decrease in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3). In nine patients, weight or height was not within the 3rd to 97th centiles for age.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

More patients than expected demonstrated endocrine laboratory abnormalities. However, there was no clinical relevance in any of the studied patients. It remains inconclusive whether ETV contributes to the abnormalities of prolactin levels or to other endocrine parameters in pediatric patients. Longitudinal studies are necessary to delineate the effect of ETV on endocrine regulation.