Increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in Huntington's disease.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
; 94(4): 1223-8, 2009 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19174491
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and behavioral disturbances. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction could contribute to a number of HD signs and symptoms; however, no data are available on cortisol diurnal variations and secretory dynamics in HD patients. OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the study was to perform a detailed analysis of HPA axis function in HD patients in relation to clinical signs and symptoms. DESIGN, SETTING, ANDPARTICIPANTS:
Twenty-four-hour cortisol secretion was studied in eight early-stage, medication-free HD patients and eight age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls in a clinical research laboratory. Cortisol levels were measured every 10 min. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Multiparameter autodeconvolution and cosinor regression were applied to quantify basal, pulsatile, and total cortisol secretion rates as well as diurnal variations in cortisol levels.RESULTS:
Total cortisol secretion rate and the amplitude of the diurnal cortisol profile were both significantly higher in HD patients compared with controls (3490 +/- 320 vs. 2500 +/- 220 nmol/liter/24 h, P = 0.023; and 111 +/- 14 vs. 64 +/- 8 nmol/liter, P = 0.012, respectively). Cortisol concentrations in patients were particularly increased in the morning and early afternoon period. In HD patients, mean 24-h cortisol levels significantly correlated with total motor score, total functional capacity, as well as body mass index.CONCLUSIONS:
HPA axis hyperactivity is an early feature of HD and is likely to result from a disturbed central glucocorticoid feedback due to hypothalamic pathology. HPA axis dysfunction may contribute to some signs and symptoms in HD patients.
Texto completo:
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Sistema Hipófise-Suprarrenal
/
Doença de Huntington
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Sistema Hipotálamo-Hipofisário
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article