Adenohypophyseal hormones and catecholamines in patients with diencephalic pathology.

The study involved 75 patients with diencephalic pathology (58 females and 17 males, mean age 39 years). All patients underwent thorough somatic and neurological check up and examination of the autonomic nervous system as well. The etiology was considered to be infection in 60 patients (60%) and brain injury in the other 15 (20%). Paroxysmal disturbances were established in 23 patients, while in the other 52, the clinical manifestation had a permanent course. Changes in adenohypophyseal (TTH, GH, FSH, LH, ACTH and RRL) hormones were established and for mean basal plasma levels of FSH these changes were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Catecholamine metabolism was impaired in the patients with diencephalic pathology, manifested by elevation of the urinary levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenalin. The role of adenohypophyseal hormones and catecholamines for the pathogenesis of diencephalic dysfunctions is discussed.