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Effects of chronic retinoid administration on pituitary function

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Abstract

It has been reported that retinoids may affect hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, causing central hypothyroidism. In the present study, we evaluated pituitary function in 11 male psoriatic patients at baseline and after 1 and 3 months of treatment with acitretin (all-trans retinoic acid, 35 mg/day). Serum LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol, GH and IGF-I levels were not affected by the treatment. By contrast, we observed a significant decrease in TSH levels (from 0.92±0.3 to 0.80±0.3 mU/l, p<0.05) at 1 month, that reverted to baseline after 3 months. No change in free T4 (FT4) levels occurred, while free T3 (FT3) levels were reduced at 1 and 3 months (from 6.7±0.5 to 6.2±0.3 and 6.1±0.6 pmol/l; p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, acitretin treatment induced a significant reduction of PRL levels after 3 months (from 182±70 to 150±56 mU/l, p<0.05). During treatment, no change in TSH and PRL response either to TRH or dopamine infusion was observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that treatment with low dose of acitretin induced a series of hormonal modifications that, in addition to a mild and transient reduction of TSH levels, included a persistent reduction of FT3, probably due to changes in thyroid hormone metabolism, and a decrease in PRL levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1Institute of Endocrine Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122, Milano, Italy

    A. R. Angioni, A. Lania, P. Beck-Peccoz & A. Spada MD

  2. Dermatology Unit 2, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, IRCCS, Milano, Italy

    A. Cattaneo

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  1. A. R. Angioni
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  2. A. Lania
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  3. A. Cattaneo
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  4. P. Beck-Peccoz
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  5. A. Spada MD
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Angioni, A.R., Lania, A., Cattaneo, A. et al. Effects of chronic retinoid administration on pituitary function. J Endocrinol Invest 28, 961–964 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345332

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