Abstract
Delayed onset of pubertal development is common in chronic renal failure (CRF). We investigated nocturnal pulsatile immunoreactive (iLH) and bioactive (bLH) LH secretion between 8 pm and 7 am in 19 pts who had received a renal transplant. Age ranged from 11.7 to 23 yrs; all stages of puberty were represented. Immunosuppression was maintained by corticosteroids and cyclosporin A and/or azathioprin. The methyl-prednisolone equivalent dosage ranged between 1.2 and 14.7 mg/m2*day. iLH and bLH were determined by RIA and the mouse Leydig cell assay respectively. Data were analysed by PULSAR and Cluster analysis programmes. LH peak frequency increased with puberty stages to a maximum at PH4. Peak areas were correlated exponentially with age and TW2 bone age (p=0.02). Peak amplitudes did not change significantly. The mean bLH/iLH ratio was 1.5 ± 0.4. It did not change with age, stage of puberty or serum creatinine. However, we found a strong inverse relationship with prednisone dosage (r= -0.72, p < 0.002). As LH bioactivity is modulated by enzymatic glycosylation and sialisation, we suggest that corticosteroid treatment may interfere with these processes.
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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Schaefer, F., Hellstern, G., Mitchell, R. et al. CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT AFFECTS LH BIOACTIVITY IN PUBERTAL RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. Pediatr Res 26, 513 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00086
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00086