Diagnostic strategy for growth hormone deficiency: relevance of IGF-1 determination as a screening test

BACKGROUND

Adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency must be diagnosed before prescribing therapeutic recombinant human GH. We studied the clinical relevance of a diagnostic strategy for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) using IGF-1 determination as a first step.

METHODS

In 2000 and 2001, we tested 142 adult patients with hypothalamo-pituitary disorders for somatotropic function using Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT), the reference test for the diagnosis of GHD, with concomitant Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) determination, a marker of somatotropic function. Patients were classified as GHD (peak GH concentration<3 ng/ml with the ITT) or normal.

SETTING

Monocenter prospective study in a tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

GHD was diagnosed in 61 subjects. Using a ROC curve, a threshold IGF-1 concentration of 175 ng/ml yielded a negative predictive value of 89+/-5%. A diagnostic strategy with IGF-1 determination as the first step followed by ITT for patients with an IGF-1 concentration below 175 ng/ml missed five of the 61 GHD patients, avoided 46/142 ITT and reduced the cost of diagnosis by 15%.

CONCLUSION

We propose the use of a strategy consisting of IGF-1 determination followed, if below 175 ng/ml by confirmatory ITT to diagnose GHD in adults.

Effect of dietary calcium intake on weight gain in type 2 diabetic patients following initiation of insulin therapy

OBJECTIVES

This pilot study analyses weight gain in type 2 diabetic patients at initiation of insulin therapy, according to daily calcium intake.

METHODS

Type 2 diabetic patients consecutively admitted for initiation of insulin therapy were studied between January and March 2004 in a monocenter study. Dietary intake was assessed by a 7-day food history before insulin treatment (initial visit) and 4 to 6 months later (final visit).

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were studied (18 males and 13 females; mean age 62+/-9 years, with diabetes duration 14+/-10 years). Weight significantly increased between initial and final visits (81.9+/-16.2 vs. 84.8+/-17.8 kg; P=0.0272). Median weight gain was 2.4 kg (IQR: -1.15 to +5.27 kg). Waist circumference increased by 2 cm (IQR: 0 to +4 cm). There was no difference between weight change and tertile of calcium intake adjusted on energy intake. We did not find any correlation between weight change and total calcium intake (Rho=0.186; P=0.3165) or dairy calcium intake (Rho=0191; P=0.3040). Similarly, we did not find any correlation between waist circumference change and total calcium intake (Rho=0.324; P=0.1205) or dairy calcium intake (Rho=0.285; P=0.0755).

CONCLUSION

We found no relation between total or dairy calcium intake and weight change during initiation of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetic patients. Dietary calcium intake does probably not play a major role on insulin-induced body weight gain.

Determination of HbA1c concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction: comparison of the DCA 2000 device with the HPLC method

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that HbA1c is an important predictor of the glycometabolic state of patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at comparing the results of HbA1c concentrations obtained by 2 different methods in patients with AMI.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a first study, HbA1c was measured in all patients consecutively hospitalized for AMI, during a 6 month period using the HPLC method and the DCA 2000 device in the biochemistry laboratory. In a second study, HbA1c measured by the DCA 2000 device in the intensive care unit was compared with HbA1c determined by HPLC in the biochemistry laboratory in a similar sample of patients. In patients without personal history of diabetes, those patients with HbA1c > 6.5% (HPLC method), were classified as possible diabetes.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients were included (119 males, 27 females; mean age: 63 +/- 15 years). Twenty-seven of the patients had a personal history of diabetes. HbA1c determined by 2 techniques were highly correlated (r = 0.939, P < 0.0001). The mean of the differences (Bland and Altman analysis) was 0.4 +/- 0.3%. Compared with the HPLC method, the sensitivity of DCA 2000 device for the detection of possible diabetes was 81.8 +/- 11.6 and the specificity was 99.1 +/- 0.9%. The diagnostic accuracy of DCA method was 97.5 +/- 1.4%. In the second study, the HbA1c concentrations of 21 additional subjects, determined in an intensive care unit, were not different from the first 21 patients of the first study.

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c can be effectively determined using the DCA 2000 device. This method is reliable and easy to be implemented in an intensive care unit.

Prognostic value of admission plasma glucose and HbA in acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

Stress hyperglycaemia increases the risk of mortality after acute myocardial infarction in diabetic and in non-diabetic patients. We aimed to determine the contribution of admission plasma glucose and HbA(1c) on post-acute myocardial infarction prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Admission plasma glucose and HbA(1c) were simultaneously measured in all patients consecutively hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. Patient survival was measured on 5 and 28 days after admission. Patients were defined as having 'previously diagnosed diabetes' (personal history of diabetes defined using ADA 1997 criteria), 'no diabetes', those without previously diagnosed diabetes and HbA(1c) below 6.5%, or 'possible diabetes', i.e. those without previously diagnosed diabetes and HbA(1c) above 6.5%.

RESULTS

Of the 146 patients included, four had died by day 5 and 14 by day 28. Admission plasma glucose was higher in patients who had died by day 28 (11.7 +/- 5.8 vs. 8.0 +/- 3.3 mmol/l, P = 0.002), whereas HbA(1c) was not (6.4 +/- 1.9 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.8%, NS). Admission plasma glucose was significantly higher in those who had died by day 28 after adjustment on HbA(1c). A multivariate analysis, including sex, age and heart failure prior to acute myocardial infarction, showed that admission plasma glucose concentration was an independent predictor of survival after acute myocardial infarction. Twenty-seven of the patients had previously diagnosed diabetes and 119 had no history of diabetes. Eleven were found to have possible diabetes. Admission plasma glucose was significantly higher in previously diagnosed diabetes (11.1 +/- 5.6) than in the other groups: 7.7 +/- 2.9 in non-diabetes, 8.2 +/- 2.1 in possible diabetes (P < 0.0001). The relationship between HbA(1c)-adjusted admission plasma glucose and mortality after acute myocardial infarction was also found in the non-diabetes group.

CONCLUSIONS

Admission plasma glucose, even after adjustment on HbA(1c), is a prognostic factor associated with mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Acute rather than the chronic pre-existing glycometabolic state accounts for the prognosis after acute myocardial infarction.

Efficacy of the long-acting octreotide formulation (octreotide-LAR) in patients with thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas

The presence of somatostatin receptors on TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas allows treatment of central hyperthyroidism with somatostatin analogs. Six women and 5 men (mean +/- SEM age, 43 +/- 3 yr) presented TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas (micro, n = 2; macro, n = 9). Seven patients had previously been treated with partial surgical removal (n = 6) and/or external radiation (n = 4) of their adenoma at least 1 yr before the study, whereas 4 patients had not been treated before somatostatin analog therapy. TSH, free T(4), and free T(3) levels were in the normal range during treatment with sc injections (n = 9) or continuous infusion (n = 2) of octreotide (280 +/- 25 microg/day). Mean thyroid hormone levels increased (P < 0.01) after the washout period (34 +/- 6 days). The patients received monthly im injections of 20 mg Octreotide-LAR. In patients with an elevated free T(4) level after 3 months (n = 1) the Octreotide-LAR dose was increased to 30 mg. After 3 months of Octreotide-LAR treatment, TSH, free T(4)/T(3), and alpha-subunit levels decreased, and 10 patients were euthyroid with normal free T(4) levels. These results remained at the same level over the next 3 months. There were no statistically significant differences in the TSH and free T(4) responses to sc octreotide or im Octreotide-LAR between previously untreated patients and patients who had undergone surgical resection and/or pituitary radiation before somatostatin analog treatment. During Octreotide-LAR treatment, minor digestive problems or moderate discomfort at the injection site, lasting less than 48 h, were reported in 6 and 5 patients, respectively. Gallbladder echographies did not reveal new gallstones during Octreotide-LAR treatment. In conclusion, this study shows that monthly im Octreotide-LAR is as effective as daily sc octreotide in controlling hyperthyroidism in patients with TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas, in both previously untreated patients and patients treated with surgery and/or pituitary radiotherapy. Octreotide-LAR is well tolerated, except for minor digestive problems or mild pain at the injection site. Therefore, Octreotide-LAR appears to be a useful therapeutic tool to facilitate medical treatment of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas in patients who need long-term somatostatin analog therapy.

Multicentre study of thyroid nodules in patients with Graves' disease

BACKGROUND

The association of Graves' disease with thyroid nodules and thyroid carcinoma is rarely reported. The incidence seems to be increasing according to recent literature. The aim of this multicentre study was to review patients who had surgery for Graves' disease associated with thyroid nodules, and to evaluate the risk of thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective study was made of 557 consecutive patients who underwent operation for Graves' disease between 1991 and 1997 in five endocrine surgery departments. Each patient underwent clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic and scintigraphic evaluation. None of the patients had had previous radioactive iodine therapy or external irradiation. Surgery consisted of either a subtotal or total thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Nodules were observed before operation in 140 patients (25.1 per cent). Thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 21 patients (15.0 per cent), always inside a nodule. The incidence of thyroid carcinoma associated with Graves' disease was 3.8 per cent (21 of 557 patients): 20 papillary and one follicular carcinoma. The carcinoma was multifocal in two patients. Tumour diameter ranged from 2 to 25 mm. A nodule was palpable in four patients.

CONCLUSION

This multicentre study of patients having thyroidectomy for Graves' disease showed that 3.8 per cent had a carcinoma; the rate of carcinoma in cold nodules was 15.0 per cent. Surgery should be advised in any patient with Graves' disease and a thyroid nodule; the operation should be total thyroidectomy.

Multiple antibody status in type 1 diabetic patients and subjects at various risk with islet-cell antibodies

The frequency of 37/40 kD antibodies and their association with other pancreatic humoral markers were studied in 109 recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients and 116 subjects with islet-cell antibodies (ICA) at various risk for this disease (64 relatives of Type 1 diabetic patients, 23 schoolchildren with no family history of diabetes, and 29 patients with Graves' disease). At the time of diagnosis, 37/40 kD antibodies were detected in 45% of Type 1a and 77% of Type 1b diabetic patients (p = 0.03). Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and/or 37/40 kD were present with the same frequency as ICA (86%). The frequency of 37/40 kD antibodies was not significantly different between the 3 groups at risk, in contrast with GAD antibodies which were found at a lower frequency in schoolchildren (p < 0.02). Frequencies of other pancreatic markers (ICA cross-reactive with mouse pancreas and insulin autoantibodies) and the combination of ICA with at least two other markers were significantly higher in relatives than in the other groups at risk (p < 0.02). Out of 116 ICA-positive non-diabetic subjects, 10 developed diabetes. All 10 displayed 37/40kD and/or GAD antibodies during the prediabetic phase. In 8 of these 10 patients, ICA was combined with at least two other markers, whereas this association was detected in only 17 of the remaining 106 subjects who did not progress to diabetes (p < 10(-4). Thus, 37/40 kD antibodies were found in about half of Type 1 diabetic patients, and with a higher-frequency in Type 1b than 1a. In ICA-positive non-diabetic subjects, our date confirm that a combination of multiple antibodies, including GAD antibodies and 37/40 kD antibodies, can enhance the predictive value for diabetes. Comparison of ICA-positive relatives of diabetic patients, schoolchildren and patients with Graves' disease revealed distinct frequencies and combinations of markers of diabetes. This might reflect different patterns of progression among these 3 groups.

Analysis and prevention of recurrent goiter

The current study was done to analyze our experience with recurrent goiter. Prevention must be stressed because reoperations of the thyroid gland present technical difficulties and are associated with an increased risk of hypoparathyroidism and permanent hoarseness. Nodular recurrences occurred in 36 of 1,456 patients (2.5 percent) who underwent thyroidectomy between 1968 and 1983. All patients had the initial operation at Jean Bernard Hospital, Poitiers, France, and had follow-up evaluation from five to 20 years. Multinodular goiter accounted for 70 percent of the recurrences. Sixty percent of the recurrences were in patients with multinodular goiters. Recurrent goiter was usually first detected about eight years after thyroidectomy. Thirty patients with recurrence had reoperations. Two patients had paralysis of the vocal cord and one patient had permanent hypoparathyroidism. Recurrent goiter may occur because of the development of new nodules (true recurrence) or because of the growth of "residual" or persistent macroscopic or microscopic nodules left at the previous thyroid operation. Intraoperative digital palpation of the entire thyroid gland is essential for detecting residual macroscopic thyroid nodules, and all enlarged nodules should be removed. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppressive therapy is recommended by some authorities to prevent "true" recurrences, although its efficacy is debated. Since recurrence is uncommon in the current series, perhaps TSH suppressive therapy should only be used in high-risk patients. In the current experience, only the multinodular character of the nodules in euthyroid patients has a significant correlation with subsequent development of recurrent goiter (p < 0.01), and one must consider patients with multinodular goiter at risk for recurrence. Once TSH treatment is begun, it will logically be continued for life. Total thyroidectomy has been recommended by some endocrine surgeons for treating patients with multinodular goiter. We prefer subtotal thyroidectomy and reserve total thyroidectomy for patients when no normal thyroid tissue can be preserved because only 2.5 percent of the patients in the current study had recurrent goiter. Prevention of residual nodules is probably best assured by systematic palpation during operation of the two thyroid lobes. This considerably lessens the risk of recurrence. Since nodular recurrences occurred in only 2.5 percent of the patients in the current study, although multinodular goiter must be considered at risk for recurrence, we do not recommend systematic total thyroidectomy in multinodular goiter.

[Primum non nocere, a forgotten adage at times. Apropos of 106 cases of iatrogenic pathologies collected in a year]

Results of a prospective trial showed that 7.9% of patients in an internal medicine department were affected by a drug-induced pathology (DIP). Reasons for this include non respect of contra-indications or to non supervision of treatment such as anti-hypertensive drugs. DIP affected more often elderly patients, and reflected superconsummation of medication.

[Is the immunologic evaluation in endocarditis of value?]

Forty-seven patients were included in a prospective trial to define the interest for searching immunologic abnormalities during endocarditis. No specific abnormalities were found, aside some patients with endocarditis who have a high levels of immune complexes. These results suggest that the interesting immunologic abnormality is the presence of an high level of immune complexes could be of interest in endocarditis.

[Neurological toxicity of amiodarone. 5 case reports]

Five patients developed neurological adverse effects as they were treated with amiodarone for 2 to 18 months. The daily maintenance dose did not exceed 400 mg. The neurological manifestations included tremor, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, dyskinesia, myoclonic jerks, extrapyramidal hypertony, and altered mental status. These side effects resolved within 3 days to 3 months after amiodarone withdrawal. Advanced age, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism seemed to be risk factors for development of amiodarone neurotoxicity. Both peripheral and central nervous systems are involved in these amiodarone-induced complications.

Bilateral symptomatic adrenal myelolipoma

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, nonfunctioning benign tumors that consist of mature fat and bone-marrow elements. In the first half of this century, most adrenal myelolipomas were found incidentally at autopsy. These tumors are usually unilateral and asymptomatic. Today they are detected by ultrasonography, computerized tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, done for other reasons. Adrenal myelolipomas can be diagnosed because of their characteristic images. Thus they are classified as "incidentalomas." We report the case of a 50-year-old man who had bilateral adrenal myelolipomas and whose right-side tumor was symptomatic. To our knowledge it is the third operated case reported in the literature. A right adrenalectomy was performed, keeping the asymptomatic left adrenal myelolipoma to preserve adrenal function.

[Pharmacokinetics of sulindac in aged patients presenting with inflammatory joint disease]

The kinetic of sulindac and its two metabolites (sulfide and sulfone) was investigated in twelve elderly patients, following multiple oral dose administration of 400 mg/d. Data were compared to those obtained previously in ten healthy volunteers who received the same dosage regimen. Following multiple dose administration, accumulation ratios indicate that sulindac do not accumulate either in elderly patients (R = 1.35; R = AUC0-24 J8/AUC0-24 J1) or in healthy young subjects (R = 1.38; R = U0-24 J1). No significant modification of sulindac and sulfide kinetic parameters was observed. The apparent bioavailability of the inactive metabolite, sulfone, was found to be doubled in elderly patients (p less than 0.05). We conclude that there is no need to modify the dosage regimen of Arthrocine (400 mg once a day) in elderly patients.

[Effects of the artificial pancreas on peripheral nerve function in the diabetic]

Twenty-one diabetic subjects were studied; all manifested fasting hyperglycemia and elevated Hb A1C. Motor conduction velocity of the median, ulnar and peroneal nerves; F wave of the peroneal nerve; sensory conduction velocity and sensory potential amplitude of the median and ulnar nerves and H reflex were determinated immediately before and after two days of strict glucose control with an artificial endocrine pancreas. A significant and acute improvement of some electrophysiological parameters led us to presume that repair of structural lesions would be unlikely. Only a metabolic disturbance, due to hyperglycemia, can be rapidly corrected.

Atenolol induced systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome

We report the first case of an illness resembling idiopathic lupus erythematosus, with fever, pleuropericarditis, antinuclear antibodies and antidenaturated DNA antibodies after 18 months of treatment with atenolol for hypertension. After withdrawal of atenolol our patient's clinical symptoms disappeared and laboratory test results returned to normal, which strongly suggests the role of atenolol in inducing the syndrome, therefore atenolol should be added to the list of beta blocking agents capable of inducing a lupus-like syndrome.

[Blink reflex and stimulus detection by the facial nerve in 21 diabetics. Testing before and after precise blood sugar normalization by the artificial pancreas]

Study of the blink reflex and stimulodetection of the facial nerve in 21 diabetics with chronic hyperglycemia (HbA1C: 12.17 +/- 2.34%) shows normal or slightly prolonged R1, R2 and M latent periods in most cases. Forty-eight hour metabolic correction by artificial pancreas produces an overall improvement in the latent periods of the blink reflex, while the motor latent period of the facial nerve remained unchanged. The improvement, also observed in studies of limb responses, points towards a metabolic process directly related to the hyperglycemia.

[Remission induced at the early stage of insulin-dependent diabetes: do predictive factors exist?]

The induction of a remission has been attempted in 28 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes of less than 3 months' duration by strictly normalizing glycemia either with a period of external artificial pancreas followed by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (22 patients) or with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion alone (6 patients). HLA A, B and DR antigens were determined in every patient. Residual beta-cell function was evaluated by measuring C peptide and the ratio of C peptide to glycemia, and by testing the response to a glucagon stimulation before initiating and after withdrawing insulin treatment. Oral treatment with 15 mg glibenclamide and 840 mg metformin daily was administered when insulin had been stopped. A remission was obtained in 17 of the 28 cases. The likelihood of a remission was greater if: (1) the patient was older (mean age was 25.6 years in case of success and 16.6 Years in case of failure); (2) initial daily needs for insulin were smaller (0.88 v. 1.23 U/kg); and (3) stimulated secretion of C peptide was larger (0.22 v. 0.11 mmol/l).

[Chronic atrophic polychondritis. Critical analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of dapsone. 2 cases]

Dapsone has been used since 1976 in the treatment of relapsing polychondritis. A critical analysis of its therapeutic effectiveness based on 2 personal cases and 14 cases reported in the literature, all treated with dapsone alone, showed that treatment had to be discontinued in 4 on account of side effects (haemolytic anaemia, erythema multiforme, somnolence, headache, nausea); 1 patient showed no improvement and 5 relapsed; 6 responded favourably and without relapse during a 3 months' to 4 years' follow-up. Considering the unpredictable course of relapsing polychondritis and the fact that some of its clinical manifestations, notably auricular chondritis, may spontaneously resolve, the response of the disease to dapsone is difficult to establish and requires to be confirmed by a controlled clinical trial.

[Nephrotic syndrome associated with chronic lymphoid leukemia. Review of the literature apropos of a case]

A case of chronic lymphoid leukaemia complicated by a nephrotic syndrome is reported. There was no evidence of amyloidosis or renal vein thrombosis. Percutaneous renal biopsy disclosed lobular membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with subendothelial deposits of IgG, C3, C4 and C1q. Circulating immune complexes, IgG lambda cryoglobulin and low CH50 levels due to activation of the classical pathway were demonstrated in serum. Immunosuppressive treatment of the leukaemia resulted in complete regression of the nephrotic syndrome.

[Blood sugar control in diabetics with the insulin pump. Comparison with discontinuous injections]

Eighteen insulin-dependent diabetic patients received insulin in a continuous subcutaneous infusion delivered by a portable pump. Short-term glycemic control was evaluated on the average glycemia (serum glucose was assayed seven times per 24 hours for three to five days), on the MAGE coefficient which gives an estimate of glycemic lability, and, in eight patients, on serum C-peptide concentrations. Results were compared to those recorded with two daily subcutaneous injections of a combination of regular and intermediate insulin. The average glycemia and the MAGE coefficient were 1.32 + 0.05 milligram (m + SEM) and 1 + 0.05 milligram respectively under continuous infusion, compared to 2.05 + 0.12 and 1.76 + 0.12 milligram respectively under insulin injections. Insulin requirements were significantly lower under continuous infusion (0.99 + 0.08 U/kg versus 1.35 + 0.11 U/kg). In three patients with brittle diabetes the use of the pump ensured rapid metabolic control. The advantages and drawbacks of portable insulin pumps are discussed in the light of this experience.

[Viral etiology of aseptic lymphocytic meningitis. Twenty-four cases seen over a nine-year period (author's transl)]

Among 208 cases of aseptic lymphocytic meningitis seen over a nine-year period, 24 were diagnosed as viral infections. Diagnosis was established by both isolation of the virus from one or several specimens (feces, pharyngeal mucus, CSF) and significant rise in specific antibody titres. The usual clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these benign infections were demonstrated in our series: prevalence in males; recrudescence in summer; infectious syndrome associated with an unequivocal, though moderately severe, meningeal syndrome, and occasionally with various visceral manifestations (exanthema, pharyngitis, acute respiratory disease, myalgia); clear CSF usually with pleiocytosis (relative but not absolute predominance of lymphocytes) and normal chemical findings. All the cases in our series were due to enteroviruses, Echo or coxsackie. Isolation of a poliovirus (type III) in one case deserves mention. Cases where clinical examination led to unequivocal diagnosis of mumps or herpes zoster were not included in our study.

[Paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia in a case of carcinoma of the bladder. Demonstration in the tumour of a substance with parathormone activity (author's transl)]

Hypercalcaemia accompanied a bladder tumour in a 77-year-old woman. Immuno-reactive parathormone (IPTH) in the tumour being high, the hypercalcaemia could thus be attributed to secretion by the tumour of a substance with parathormone activity. The rarity of bladder tumours at the origin of paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia is recalled. The mechanism of the metabolic disturbance and the disagreement between serum and tumour levels of IPTH are discussed.