ENDOCRINE ABNORMALITIES IN IDIOPATHIC HEMOCHROMATOSIS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (205) , 99-110
Abstract
Anterior pituitary functions and sex steroid levels were measured in 12 patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis (8 males, 4 postmenopausal females) and age-matched controls, 12 with diabetes mellitus and 5 with hepatic cirrhosis. In idiopathic hemochromatosis gonadotropin deficiency was present in 7 of 12 patients including 6 of 7 patients who had clinical evidence of hypogonadism. Basal prolactin levels were significantly lower in the patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis compared with either of the control groups (P < 0.02). Nine patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis exhibited subnormal prolactin responses to TRH. Thyroid and adrenocortical functions were normal in all patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis. Testosterone values were subnormal in 5 of 8 males with idiopathic hemochromatosis; females with idiopathic hemochromatosis had significantly lower testosterone values compared with the diabetic females (P < 0.05). Estradiol values in both sexes and sex hormone binding globulin values in the males were not significantly different in patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis compared with the controls. Sex hormone binding globulin levels were significantly higher in females with idiopathic hemochromatosis compared with either diabetic or cirrhotic females (P < 0.05). Impairment of anterior pituitary function occurs in idiopathic hemocromatosis but is selective; gonadotropin and prolactin deficiencies are common. Clinical hypogonadism is usually hypogonadotrophic in origin.