TY - JOUR
T1 - Autoimmunity as a possible cause of growth hormone deficiency
AU - De Bellis, Anna Maria
AU - Colao, A.
AU - Tirelli, G.
AU - Ruocco, G.
AU - Di Somma, C.
AU - Battaglia, M.
AU - Pane, E.
AU - Bellastella, G.
AU - Dello Iacovo, A.
AU - Sinisi, A. A.
AU - Bizzarro, A.
AU - Bellastella, A.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - A possible autoimmune aggression to pituitary somatotrophs has been suggested by the occurrence of antipituitary antibodies (APA) directed against GH-secreting cells in some cases of GH deficiency (GHD) both in adults and in children and in some patients with autoimmune poliendocrine syndrome. We also detected APA in some patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and suggested that the presence of these antibodies could identify those of them prone to develop GHD. In fact, patients with ISS, resulted positive for APA at the first observation, during a longitudinal follow-up showed an impaired GH response to the stimuli in subsequent years suggestive of acquired GHD. Also in such patients we demonstrated that the target of APA were the somatotrophs and that an autoimmune attack to these cells may be the underlying cause of hormonal impairment in several children with GHD positive for APA. In this connection we suggested that in these patients an early iso-hormonal therapy with recombinant GH may be useful to interrupt or delay the progression towards a clinical GHD.
AB - A possible autoimmune aggression to pituitary somatotrophs has been suggested by the occurrence of antipituitary antibodies (APA) directed against GH-secreting cells in some cases of GH deficiency (GHD) both in adults and in children and in some patients with autoimmune poliendocrine syndrome. We also detected APA in some patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and suggested that the presence of these antibodies could identify those of them prone to develop GHD. In fact, patients with ISS, resulted positive for APA at the first observation, during a longitudinal follow-up showed an impaired GH response to the stimuli in subsequent years suggestive of acquired GHD. Also in such patients we demonstrated that the target of APA were the somatotrophs and that an autoimmune attack to these cells may be the underlying cause of hormonal impairment in several children with GHD positive for APA. In this connection we suggested that in these patients an early iso-hormonal therapy with recombinant GH may be useful to interrupt or delay the progression towards a clinical GHD.
KW - Antipituitary antibodies
KW - Autoimmune hypophysitis
KW - Idiopathic GH deficiency
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M3 - Article
C2 - 19246982
AN - SCOPUS:63049104349
VL - 31
SP - 1132
EP - 1134
JO - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
JF - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
SN - 0391-4097
IS - 12
ER -