SLEEP-RELATED GONADOTROPIN RHYTHMS IN CHILDREN FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF ACUTE LEUKEMIA: RECOVERY OF THE HYPOTHALAMO-PITUITARY-GONADAL AXIS AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY AND CNS-IRRADIATION |
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Authors: | W. BECK P. STUBBE E. JENTSCH G. PRINDULL |
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Affiliation: | Department of Paediatrics, University of Göttingen, F. R. G. |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT. Twelve children (5 girls and 7 boys, between the ages of 6 and 20 years) in complete remission from previous ALL who had completed their entire anti-leukemic treatment program and who had been off all chemotherapy for at least one year, were included in a study of sleep-related prolactin and gonadotropin rhythms. All the patients had received prophylactic CNS-irradiation. The patients in early puberty showed a sleep-dependent FSH rhythm. Patients in middle-to-late puberty had sleep-related FSH and LH rhythms, and estradiol and testosterone plasma concentrations were normal for their pubertal stage, suggesting recovery of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal feedback system. We conclude that the neuro-endocrine axis is not permanently injured by CNS-irradiation and anti-leukemic therapy. |
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Keywords: | Lymphoblastic leukemia gonadotropins prolactin puberty chemotherapy |
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