GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONE α SUBUNIT SECRETION BY PITUITARY ADENOMAS: INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL IRRADIATION

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 99 patients with pituitary adenomas, 46 with acromegaly, the serum level of the glycoprotein hormone .alpha. subunit was elevated in 18 cases. Thirteen of these were acromegalic, one had an FSH[follicle stimulating hormone]-producing tumor. Alpha levels varied little during the day, from one day to the next and over a 6 mo. period. In 25 patients with a variety of other hypothalamic-pituitary disorders examined, 1 patient with a craniopharyngioma had a mildly elevated .alpha. level. External pituitary irradiation was followed by an acute and often transient fall in .alpha. level in several of these patients. Of the 54 patients with pituitary adenomas who had received external irradiation before testing, only 5 had elevated .alpha. subunit levels compared with 13 patients of the 45 who had not been irradiated. This difference in incidence of elevated .alpha. level was statistically significant (P < 0.025). External irradiation may reduce .alpha. subunit level chronically in many patients with pituitary adenoma.