View clinical trials related to Endocrine System Diseases.
Filter by:To show an increase in annual growth rate 3 years after Visit 2. Annual growth rate in standard deviation (SD) after 3 years will be compared to growth rate before the start of GH treatment.
Growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) in adulthood has been associated with changes in body composition (e.g. increased abdominal obesity, and reduced muscle mass), in organ functions (e.g. reduced cardiac systolic function), in metabolic parameters linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (e.g. increased serum total and LDL cholesterol, C reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen), and with reduced bone density. These observations have been used to define the "adult GHD syndrome" and to advocate GH replacement therapy in GHD adults. However, most of the studies have been performed in patients who have had hypothalamic or pituitary diseases, and/or have undergone brain irradiation. Such patients are often chronically sick, and commonly lack other pituitary hormones, whose replacement therapies may not fully restore the physiological functions of the under-active glands. Reliable data on the existence of the AGHD syndrome and its response to GH therapy can be only obtained by studying patients that are otherwise healthy. However, isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) is a rare disease. In addition, up to 50% of patients who have been diagnosed with IGHD in childhood are no longer GH deficient as adults, making such study difficult to perform due to the scarcity of patients population. We have identified a very large homogeneous population of patients who have IGHD due to a homozygous mutation in the GHRH-receptor (GHRHR) gene that resides in a rural area of Brazil. None of the adult dwarf patients has ever been treated with hGH replacement. This population represents a unique model to study the effect of isolated lifetime lack of GH. We propose studies of physiological and metabolic parameters in subjects who are homozygous for this mutation and compare them with normal subjects residing in the same community. The primary goal of this proposal is to determine the consequences of life-long lack of GH on body composition, muscle strength, cardiovascular status, cardiovascular risk factors, thyroid status and bone density and metabolism, and to test which of these parameters are reversed by a 6-month course of GH replacement therapy. In addition, we want to test the hypothesis that heterozygosity for this GHRHR mutation causes a phenotype that may be intermediate between the one present in homozygous normal subjects and in homozygous affected GHD patients. This is relevant because inactivating mutations in the GHRHR are being described with increasing frequency in populations of different genetic background, suggesting that individuals with faulty single GHRHR alleles may be present in significant numbers in the general population.
To assess the predictive value of the short term IGF-1 stimulation test, based on IGF-1 changes, on the 24 months growth response to 2 different doses of GH in patients with conventional GH deficiency.
Hypotheses: 1. The prevalence of endocrinopathies, and growth hormone (GH) deficiency in particular, among young children diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is higher than is commonly thought. 2. Early treatment of children with ONH and GH-deficiency can prevent adverse outcomes. Aims: 1. Determine the prevalence and types of endocrinopathies in children diagnosed with ONH. 2. Correlate endocrine outcome with radiographic, ocular, and developmental findings in children with ONH. 3. Examine the effect of GH treatment on growth and obesity in children with ONH, GH-deficiency, and either subnormal or normal growth compared to children with ONH that are not GH-deficient. 4. Compare growth outcomes between children with isolated GH-deficiency and those with multiple hormone deficiencies.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of growth hormone replacement on women with growth hormone deficiency. Growth hormone deficiency means the body no longer produces growth hormone due to a tumor or some kind of disease of the brain in an area called the pituitary/hypothalamic region. This is the area of the brain where growth hormone is normally produced. We, the researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, will establish the effects of growth hormone replacement on cardiovascular parameters (laboratory tests, the flexibility of the arteries, changes in heart rate) in women with growth hormone deficiency. Our goal is to see if this therapy: - has effects on women's cardiovascular risk markers (special blood tests which indicate how healthy the heart and arteries are) - has effects on women's types and levels of various substances circulating in their blood - in women affects the stiffness of their arteries and heart rate variability in parallel with changes in cardiovascular risk markers - has different effects depending on whether women are pre or post menopausal. Participation in this study is expected to last approximately 12 months.
The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different dose regimens of r-hGH (Saizen®) in subjects with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (COGHD) during the transition phase from childhood to adulthood.
This study is a multicenter, open-label, postmarketing surveillance study. The substudy will collect information on BMD in adolescents and young adults with GHD or Turner syndrome who are completing GH treatment for statural indications.
OBJECTIVES: I. Compare whether the bone tissue in the spine and hip improves in patients with adult onset growth hormone deficiency treated with growth hormone (GH) vs placebo. II. Determine whether the blood samples of these patients show evidence of beneficial bone effects after treatment with GH. III. Compare the quality of life of these patients treated with these 2 regimens. IV. Determine the side effects of GH in these patients.
This study will evaluate healthy normal volunteers and patients with a variety of endocrine disorders to 1) learn more about conditions that affect the endocrine glands (glands that secrete hormones) and 2) train physicians in endocrinology. Patients with endocrine-related conditions and healthy volunteers of all ages may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a physical examination medical and history. They may be required to provide blood, saliva or urine samples and undergo ultrasound (using sound waves) or magnetic resonance (using a magnetic field) imaging to visualize internal body structures. Some healthy adult volunteers will have hormone-stimulating tests to assess endocrine function. These tests measure blood hormone levels before and after injection of a synthetic form of a hormone. A device called a heparin lock, through which the hormone is injected and the blood samples are collected, is placed in a vein in the arm or hand. Blood samples are drawn before the hormone is injected and at various intervals after the injection to measure levels of the hormone. These tests, which last from 1 to 3 hours, may include the following: 1. CRH stimulation test corticotropin-releasing hormone is given to test pituitary and adrenal gland function 2. ACTH stimulation test adrenocorticotrophic hormone is given to test adrenal gland function 3. LHRH stimulation test luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone is given to test pituitary gland function 4. TRH stimulation test thyroid-releasing hormone is given to test pituitary and thyroid gland function 5. GHRH stimulation test growth hormone releasing hormone is given to measure growth hormone levels. An oral glucose tolerance test, which is similar to the stimulation tests, may also be done to measure blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels after drinking a sugary liquid. Healthy volunteers and patients with a hereditary endocrine disorder and their family members may also be asked to provide a blood sample for genetic studies of inherited endocrine disorders. Patients with endocrine-related disorders may be offered medical or surgical treatment for their disorder. AcAccess http://turners.nichd.nih.gov/ for additional study publications.
The goal of this study is to develop better methods of diagnosis, localization, and treatment for pheochromocytomas. These tumors, which usually arise from the adrenal glands, are often difficult to detect with current methods. Pheochromocytomas release chemicals called catecholamines, causing high blood pressure. Undetected, the tumors can lead to severe medical consequences, including stroke, heart attack and sudden death, in situations that would normally pose little or no risk, such as surgery, general anesthesia or childbirth. Patients with pheochromocytoma may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine tests. Study participants will undergo blood, urine, and imaging tests, described below, to detect pheochromocytoma. If a tumor is found, the patient will be offered surgery. If surgery is not feasible (for example, if there are multiple tumors that cannot be removed), evaluations will continue in follow-up visits. If the tumor cannot be found, the patient will be offered medical treatment and efforts to detect the tumor will continue. Main diagnostic and research tests may include the following: 1. Blood tests - mainly measurements of plasma or urine catecholamines and metanephrines as well as methoxytyramine. If necessary the clonidine suppression test can be carried out. 2. Standard imaging tests - Non-investigational imaging tests include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sonography, and 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and FDG (positron emission tomography) PET/CT. These scans may be done before and/or after surgical removal of pheochromocytoma. 3. Research PET scanning is done using an injection of radioactive compounds. Patients may undergo 18F-FDOPA, 18F-DA, as well as 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT . Each scan takes up to about 2 hours. 4. Genetic testing - A small blood sample is collected for DNA analysis and other analyses.