Endocrinological investigation of pituitary conadal axis in thalassemia major.

A study of the pituitary gonadal axis was undertaken in 18 male patinets with thalassemia major and 41 normal males, in order to define the cause of the sexual infantilism frequently seen in children affected by this illness. The plasma testosterone level was measured before as well as after stimulatioing prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal age. Significant findings were an insufficient secretion of gonadotropins as well as low testosterone level in patients of pubertal and post-pubertal age.

Calcium metabolism in children suffering from homozygous beta-thalassaemia after oral administration of 47Ca.

The study of calcium metabolism in ten thalassaemic children comperatively with controls after oral administration of 47Ca has shown diminished intestinal absorption. It is suggested that this finding is propably related in part with the pathogenesis of the osteoporosis in thalassaemia.

Urinary hydroxyproline values following continuous and intermittent administration of prednisolone in children.

The administration of 2 mg/kg body weight of prednisolone daily in divided doses to 5 healthy children aged 5-7 years resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of total urinary hydroxyproline (HOP) which was restored to pretreatment levels two weeks after discontinuation of the drug. On the other hand, the administration of 2 mg/kg body weight of prednisolone in a single dose on alternate days (every-other-day) to two children and for a period of 10 days caused insignificant alterations in the amount of urinary HOP.