Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019621 (Langerhans cell histiocytosis)
 3,250 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In our recent experience, the posttraumatic diabetes insipidus (PT.DI) and idiopathic (I.DI) are the most common forms of central diabetes insipidus (C.DI) in adult patients. The hypothalamo-pituitary function in these patients may be quite heterogeneous. We evaluated this aspect in 32 patients with different forms of C.DI (19 males and 13 females; aged 16-55 yrs): 12 with previous severe cranial or general trauma; 8 with CNS lesion due to Tuberculosis, Sarcoidosis, Histiocytosis X or to other pathogenic noxa (Secondary DI); 12 with idiopathic form. In all we measured ACTH, TSH, FSH, LH, PRL and target hormones (pl. cortisol, T3 T4, Testosterone) in baseline conditions with and without substitutive DDAVP therapy. In all cases the hormonal pattern was within the normal range. In several patients stimulation test with specific releasing factors (TRH, LHRH, oCRH) were carried out. Although basal anterior pituitary function is usually normal in patients with central DI (post-traumatic, idiopathic or secondary), an isolated subclinical secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism can be observed in some cases. Thus, a more accurate, periodical, and complete hormonal evaluation is indicated in some patients. The maintained response of ACTH to CRH (even increased after acute withdrawal therapy) indicated that AVP is not necessary to ensure normal function to the CRH-ACTH axis.
 ...
PMID:[Anterio-hypophyseal function in central diabetes insipidus]. 281 47

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement and, in particular, hypothalamic-pituitary involvement are well described features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). The actual incidence of CNS-LCH disease is unknown and the natural history is poorly understood. Diabetes insipidus (DI) is reported to be the most common and well described manifestation of hypothalamic-pituitary involvement (up to 50%). Anterior pituitary dysfunction has been reported in up to 20% of patients with LCH, and occurs almost exclusively concurrently with DI. In the current paper we describe our experience with 7 patients (6 females and 1 male) in whom hypothalamicpituitary involvement was a major feature of LCH. Diagnosis was made in 4 patients during childhood or adolescence, and 3 patients were over 18 years old at the time of diagnosis. Our series exemplifies the wide spectrum of LCH-induced hypopituitarism, and demonstrates some unique features, including a higher incidence of CRH/ACTH deficiency compared to other reports (4/7 patients), and massive obesity in 2 of our patients. Endocrine function was not improved in any of our patients following medical treatment of LCH with chemotherapy and glucocorticoids. We conclude that pituitary-hypothalamic dysfunction is a common feature of LCH, and therefore all LCH patients should undergo a thorough endocrine evaluation periodically.
 ...
PMID:Hypopituitarism in langerhans cell histiocytosis: seven cases and literature review. 1168 44