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Cerebrospinal fluid levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.
- Source :
-
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology [Am J Obstet Gynecol] 2000 Apr; Vol. 182 (4), pp. 776-81; discussion 781-4. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Objective: Women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea are anovulatory because of reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone drive. Several studies have documented hypercortisolemia, which suggests that functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is stress-induced. Further, with recovery (resumption of ovulation), cortisol decreased and gonadotropin-releasing hormone drive increased. Corticotropin-releasing hormone can increase cortisol and decrease gonadotropin-releasing hormone. To determine its role in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, we measured corticotropin-releasing hormone in cerebrospinal fluid along with arginine vasopressin, another potent adrenocorticotropic hormone secretagog, and beta-endorphin, which is released by corticotropin-releasing hormone and can inhibit gonadotropin-releasing hormone.<br />Study Design: Corticotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin, and beta-endorphin levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid from 14 women with eumenorrhea and 15 women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.<br />Results: Levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone in cerebrospinal fluid and of vasopressin were comparable and beta-endorphin levels were lower in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.<br />Conclusions: In women with established functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, increased cortisol and reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone are not sustained by elevated cerebrospinal-fluid corticotropin-releasing hormone, vasopressin, or beta-endorphin. These data do not exclude a role for these factors in the initiation of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9378
- Volume :
- 182
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10764453
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(00)70326-7