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Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency associated with common variable immunodeficiency

  • Endocrinology
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Abstract

A 14-year-old girl has been suffering from an isolated adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) deficiency with secondary glucocorticoid deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency since the age of 6.6 years. Human corticotropin releasing hormone administration did not increase ACTH and cortisol levels, strongly suggesting a pituitary deficiency. Despite the profound humoral defect, severe infections have never developed and the antibody response to herpes viruses was intact. We speculate that the association between two rare disorders, simultaneously diagnosed 2 months after measles, is not coincidental but caused by close interactions between neuro-endocrine and immune systems.

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Abbreviations

ACTH:

adrenocorticotropic hormone

CVI:

common variable immunodeficiency

IFN-γ:

interferon-γ

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University of Turin, P. Polonia 94, I-10126, Turin, Italy

    P. A. Tovo, S. martino & G. Pastorelli

  2. Endocrinology Division, O.I.R.M., P. Polonia 94, I-10126, Turin, Italy

    R. Lala & C. De Sanctis

Authors
  1. P. A. Tovo
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  2. R. Lala
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  3. S. martino
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  4. G. Pastorelli
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  5. C. De Sanctis
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Tovo, P.A., Lala, R., martino, S. et al. Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency associated with common variable immunodeficiency. Eur J Pediatr 150, 400–402 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02093717

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02093717

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