Since in the literature basophilia is frequently related to myxedema, we evaluated basophilic leukocytes in patients with hypothyroidism, applying routine techniques used in clinical laboratories. The study included normal persons, untreated patients with hypothyroidism, and euthyroid subjects with hyperlipidemia. The number of circulating basophils was determined by differential counts of Pappenheim stained blood smears. No difference in relative and total basophil counts was detected in patients with hypothyroidism as compared to healthy controls (1.0% and 58.1 basophils/μl vs. 0.8% and 50.8 basophils/μl, respectively). The percentage of basophils in myxedema associated with hypercholesterolemia amounted to 1.0%, their absolute number to 57.6/μl; in hypothyroid patients presenting normal serum cholesterol levels, the relative and absolute numbers of basophilic leukocytes was not statistically different (0.83% and 61.1 basophils/μl, respectively). We conclude that in patients with hypothyroidism the number of basophils is not statistically different from the values of basophils in healthy controls. Furthermore, the number of peripheral blood basophils in hypothyroidism is not related to the serum cholesterol level.

OBJECTIVESeveral studies have suggested that iodine may influence thyroid hormone status, and perhaps antibody production, in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. To date, studies have been carried out using large amounts of iodine. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of small doses of iodine on thyroid function and thyroid antibody levels in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who were living in an area of mild dietary iodine deficiency.METHODSForty patients who tested positive for anti-thyroid (TPO) antibodies or with a moderate to severe hypoechogenic pattern on ultrasound received 250 microg potassium iodide daily for 4 months (range 2-13 months). An additional 43 patients positive for TPO antibodies or with hypoechogenicity on ultrasound served as a control group. All patients were TBII negative.RESULTSSeven patients in the iodine-treated group developed subclinical hypothyroidism and one patient became hypothyroid. Three of the seven who were subclinically hypothyroid became euthyroid again when iodine treatment was stopped. One patient developed hyperthyroidism with a concomitant increase in TBII titre to 17 U/l, but after iodine withdrawal this patient became euthyroid again. Only one patient in the control group developed subclinical hypothyroidism during the same time period. All nine patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had reduced echogenicity on ultrasound. Four of the eight patients who developed subclinical hypothyroidism had TSH concentrations greater than 3 mU/l. In 32 patients in the iodine-treated group and 42 in the control group, no significant changes in thyroid function, antibody titres or thyroid volume were observed.CONCLUSIONSSmall amounts of supplementary iodine (250 microg) cause slight but significant changes in thyroid hormone function in predisposed individuals.

SummaryOBJECTIVE We investigated the effect of intramuscular injections of long‐acting bromocriptine in patients with macroadenomas. STUDY DESIGN AND PATIENTS Thirty patients with PRL‐secreting pituitary macroadenomas were treated with repeated 4‐weekly intramuscular injections of 50 or 100 mg of a long‐acting, repeatable bromocriptine formulation for six to 37 injections, amounting to a total of 473 injections. Twenty patients received parenteral bromocriptine as primary therapy, ten had persisting hyperprolactinemia after previous therapies including pituitary surgery (n= 7), oral bromocriptine (7), and pituitary Irradiation (2). MEASUREMENTS A PRL day profile was obtained and the patients' clinical status and history were documented, at intervals. Detailed clinical, laboratory, and radiological (pituitary nuclear magnetic resonance or computed tomography scan) evaluations were performed at baseline, after 1 injection and every 6th injection therafter. RESULTS In all patients PRL was suppressed from a mean ± SEM pretreatment level of 32 620 ± 8680 to 4480 ± 1140 mU/l on the third day after the first injection. In 12 patients PRL levels normalized (< 400 mU/l) with the first to fourth injection, in three additional patients PRL levels normalized after 8–15 months. In 19 patients PRL was suppressed to less than 1000 mU/l. In three patients PRL did not decrease to less than 50% of pretreatment; in two of them on oral bromocriptine prior to this study there had been a comparable low efficacy. Of 28 patients with macroadenomas (median height 22 mm) tumour shrinkage was evident in 15 by nuclear magnetic resonance or computed tomography scan 28 days after the first injection, and in three additional patients after 6 months. There was further regression in seven cases after 12, 18 or 24 injections. Adenoma size (mean SEM) decreased to 66 ± 7% of the pretreatment value. The 40 adverse events noted in 20 of 30 patients during 24 hours after the first injection were similar to known side‐effects of oral bromocriptine, nausea and postural hypotension being the most frequent. With repeated injections, on average 0 6 adverse events were noted per injection (mostly mild asthenia). There were no local adverse reactions at the injection site.CONCLUSION We conclude that long‐acting repeatable bromocriptine in patients with macroprolactinomas offers a safe and efficacious primary treatment that ensures compliance and gives long‐term control. Adverse reactions are comparable to oral bromocriptine but subside with repeated injections.

We studied the efficacy and tolerability of a repeatable long-acting parenteral depot-bromocriptine preparation (Parlodel LAR) in 14 acromegalic patients, 10 of whom had received oral bromocriptine therapy previously, 2 of them showing intolerance to oral bromocriptine. Patients received i.m. injections of 50–100 mg depot-bromocriptine at 4-week intervals for 3–24 months (median 6). Growth hormone profiles were assessed by four daily samples at 4-week intervals. Main daily growth hormone levels decreased from 52.1 ±12.3 μg/l (mean ± SEM) to 19.4 ± 4.7 μg/l on the day of injection. In 6 patients, growth hormone values were lowered by more than 50%, whereas IGF-I levels decreased only slightly and growth hormone values during the oral glucose tolerance test remained non-suppressible. Tumour sizes were not affected. Two women became pregnant and were delivered of healthy babies. Side-effects typical of bromocriptine occurred frequently on the days of injection and diminished in most patients after 2 months of therapy despite increasing dosage. Compared with previous oral bromocriptine therapy, 9 of 10 patients preferred the depot preparation, whereas the reduction of growth hormone levels was similar during both treatments. In conclusion, depot-bromocriptine should be considered for acromegalic patients intolerant to oral bromocriptine.

Journal Article Effect of a long-acting injectable dopamine agonist on serum growth hormone levels in acromegaly Get access H Pfingsten, H Pfingsten Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar R Haase, R Haase Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar R Windeck, R Windeck Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar W Reinhardt, W Reinhardt Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C Jaspers, C Jaspers Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar I Lancranjan, I Lancranjan Sandoz, Basel Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G Benker, G Benker Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar D Reinwein D Reinwein Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Acta Endocrinologica (Norway), Volume 120, Issue 3_Supplement, Jun 1989, Page S79, https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.120S079 Published: 01 June 1989

Journal Article First results of macroprolactinoma treatment by parenteral long-acting bromcocriptine controlled by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and computerized tomography Get access R Haase, R Haase Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar M Busse, M Busse Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar R Windeck, R Windeck Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar I Lancranjan, I Lancranjan Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität EssenDepartment of Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research, Sandoz, Basel Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar D Reinwein, D Reinwein Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G Benker G Benker Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Essen Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Acta Endocrinologica (Norway), Volume 117, Issue 4_Supplement, Apr 1988, Page S123, https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.117S123 Published: 01 April 1988