1
|
van Roessel IMAA, de Graaf JP, Biermasz NR, Charmandari E, van Santen HM. Acquired hypothalamic dysfunction in childhood: 'what do patients need?' - an Endo-ERN survey. Endocr Connect 2023; 12:e230147. [PMID: 37531603 PMCID: PMC10503223 DOI: 10.1530/ec-23-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective Hypothalamic dysfunction is a rare condition and can be encountered in patients who have been diagnosed or treated for a suprasellar brain tumor. Due to its rarity, the signs and symptoms of hypothalamic dysfunction may be difficult to recognize, leading to delayed diagnosis of the suprasellar brain tumor or to difficulties in finding the health-care expertise for hypothalamic dysfunction after tumor treatment. To improve the care and outcome of patients with acquired hypothalamic dysfunction, professionals are required to understand the patient's needs. Design A worldwide online survey was distributed from April 2022 to October 2022 to patients with childhood-onset hypothalamic dysfunction (as reported by the patient) following a brain tumor. Methods Patients were notified about the survey through patient advocacy groups, the SIOPe craniopharyngioma working group and the Endo-ERN platform. Results In total, 353 patients with hypothalamic dysfunction following craniopharyngioma (82.2%), low-grade glioma (3.1%) or a pituitary tumor (8.2%) or caregivers responded to the survey. Sixty-two percent had panhypopituitarism. Obesity (50.7%) and fatigue (48.2%) were considered the most important health problems. Unmet needs were reported for help with diet, exercise and psychosocial issues. Patients' suggestions for future research include new treatments for hypothalamic obesity and alternative ways for hormone administration. Conclusions According to the patient's perspective, care for acquired hypothalamic dysfunction can be improved if delivered by experts with a holistic view of the patient in a multidisciplinary setting with a focus on quality of life. Future care and research on hypothalamic dysfunction must integrate the patients' unmet needs. Significance statement Patients with hypothalamic dysfunction may experience a variety of symptoms, which are not always adequately recognized or addressed. In previous papers, the perspective of caregivers of children with craniopharyngioma has been reported (Klages et al. 2022, Craven et al. 2022). Now we address the patients' perspective on acquired hypothalamic dysfunction using an Endo-ERN global survey. According to the patients' perspective, care can be improved, with needs for improvement in the domains of obesity, fatigue and lifestyle. Research may focus on ways to improve hypothalamic obesity and alternative ways for hormone administration. Ideally, care should be delivered by doctors who have a holistic view of the patient in a multidisciplinary expert team. The results of this study can be used to formulate best practices for clinical care and to design future research proposals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I M A A van Roessel
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J P de Graaf
- Dutch Pituitary Foundation, Nijkerk, The Netherlands
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Endo-ERN European Reference Network on Rare endocrine conditions
| | - N R Biermasz
- Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Endo-ERN European Reference Network on Rare endocrine conditions
| | - E Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - H M van Santen
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
van Roessel IMAA, van Schaik J, Meeteren AYNSV, Boot AM, der Grinten HLCV, Clement SC, van Iersel L, Han KS, van Trotsenburg ASP, Vandertop WP, Kremer LCM, van Santen HM. Body mass index at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor; a reflection of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction or lifestyle? Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:6093-6102. [PMID: 35416504 PMCID: PMC9135856 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) are at risk of becoming overweight, which has been shown to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) dysfunction during follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis is related to BMI at follow-up. It is uncertain, however, whether aberrant BMI at brain tumor diagnosis reflects early hypothalamic dysfunction or rather reflects genetic and sociodemographic characteristics. We aimed to examine whether BMI at childhood brain tumor diagnosis is associated with HP dysfunction at diagnosis or its development during follow-up. METHODS The association of BMI at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor to HP dysfunction at diagnosis or during follow-up was examined in a Dutch cohort of 685 CBTS, excluding children with craniopharyngioma or a pituitary tumor. Individual patient data were retrospectively extracted from patient charts. RESULTS Of 685 CTBS, 4.7% were underweight, 14.2% were overweight, and 3.8% were obese at diagnosis. Being overweight or obese at diagnosis was not associated with anterior pituitary deficiency or diabetes insipidus at diagnosis or during follow-up. In children with suprasellar tumors, being obese at diagnosis was associated with central precocious puberty. CONCLUSION Overweight or obesity at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor seems not to be associated with pituitary deficiencies. These results suggest that genetics and lifestyle may be more important etiologic factors for higher BMI at diagnosis in these children than hypothalamic dysfunction. To improve the long-term outcome of CBTS with regards to overweight and obesity, more attention should be given to lifestyle already at the time of brain tumor treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I M A A van Roessel
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J van Schaik
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A Y N Schouten-van Meeteren
- Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M Boot
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - H L Claahsen-van der Grinten
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - S C Clement
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L van Iersel
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - K S Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A S P van Trotsenburg
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W P Vandertop
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, and VU University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L C M Kremer
- Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H M van Santen
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Princess Máxima Centre for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|