Assessment of Neuroendocrine Changes and Hypothalamo-Pituitary Autoimmunity in Patients with COVID-19

We examined a total of 49 patients with COVID-19 and 28
healthy controls. The frequency of adrenal insufficiency in patients with
COVID-19 was found as 8.2%. Patients with COVID-19 had lower free
T3, IGF-1, and total testosterone levels, and higher cortisol and
prolactin levels when compared with controls. We also demonstrated the presence
of APA in three and AHA in one of four patients with adrenal insufficiency. In
conclusion, COVID-19 may result in adrenal insufficiency, thus routine screening
of adrenal functions in these patients is needed. Endocrine disturbances in
COVID-19 are similar to those seen in acute stressful conditions or infections.
Pituitary or hypothalamic autoimmunity may play a role in neuroendocrine
abnormalities in COVID-19. [...] Georg Thieme Verlag Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart,
GermanyArticle in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

Source: Hormone and Metabolic Research - March 11, 2022 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Gonen, Mustafa Sait De Bellis, Annamaria Durcan, Emre Bellastella, Giuseppe Cirillo, Paolo Scappaticcio, Lorenzo Longo, Miriam Bircan, Basak Ecem Sahin, Serdar Sulu, Cem Ozkaya, Hande Mefkure Konukoglu, Dildar Kartufan, Fatma Ferda Kelestimur, Fahrettin Tags: Endocrine Care Source Type: research