dc.contributor.author | Kimata,D | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-24T06:34:31Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-24T06:34:31Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1993 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25083 | |
dc.description.abstract | Plasma concentrations of cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and
testosterone were measured by specific radioimmunoassay methods in 58
male human African trypanosomiasis patients from Western Kenya. Each
patient was either at the eariy or at the late stage of the disease at the time of the
study. Packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin levels were also determined in
the patients to assess extent of anaemia and hence the severity of the infection. All
these investigations were repeated one month after the same patients were treated
for human trypanosomiasis with intravenous injections of Suramin for those at the
early stage and with intravenous injections of Suramin and Melarsoprol for those at
the late stage.
Significant elevations in plasma cortisol and severe reductions in plasma
testosterone levels were found in the infected patients at both stages of the
disease. There were no significant changes in plasma LH concentrations. PCVand
hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced in these patients. There were no
significant differences in all the parameters analysed between the patients at the
early stage and those at the late stage but this was likely attributable to the small
sample sizes. Parasitaemia, anaemia and clinical symptoms of human
trypanosomiasis were eliminated with chemotherapy in the infected/treated
patients but the plasma cortisol and testosterone perturbations seemed to persist.
It is probable that human trypanosomiasis has differential endocrine
pathoiogicai effects leading to enhanced adrenocortical activity on the one hand
and testicular hypogonadism on the other. The effects of trypanosome-induced
stress and of trypanosome-derived or induced toxins are implicated. It is aiso likely
that there is still some residual endocrine organ damage in patients treated for
human trypanosomiasis.
IX
ABSTRACT
Plasma concentrations of cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and
testosterone were measured by specific radioimmunoassay methods in 58
male human African trypanosomiasis patients from Western Kenya. Each
patient was either at the eariy or at the late stage of the disease at the time of the
study. Packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin levels were also determined in
the patients to assess extent of anaemia and hence the severity of the infection. All
these investigations were repeated one month after the same patients were treated
for human trypanosomiasis with intravenous injections of Suramin for those at the
early stage and with intravenous injections of Suramin and Melarsoprol for those at
the late stage.
Significant elevations in plasma cortisol and severe reductions in plasma
testosterone levels were found in the infected patients at both stages of the
disease. There were no significant changes in plasma LH concentrations. peVand
hemoglobin levels were significantly reduced in these patients. There were no
significant differences in all the parameters analysed between the patients at the
early stage and those at the late stage but this was likely attributable to the small
sample sizes. Parasitaemia, anaemia and clinical symptoms of human
trypanosomiasis were eliminated with chemotherapy in the infected/treated
patients but the plasma cortisol and testosterone perturbations seemed to persist.
It is probable that human trypanosomiasis has differential endocrine
pathoiogicai effects leading to enhanced adrenocortical activity on the one hand
and testicular hypogonadism on the other. The effects of trypanosome-induced
stress and of trypanosome-derived or induced toxins are implicated. It is aiso likely
that there is still some residual endocrine organ damage in patients treated for
human trypanosomiasi | en |
dc.description.sponsorship | The University of Nairobi | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.subject | Plasma cortisol, luteinizing hormone | en |
dc.subject | Testosterone levels in human | en |
dc.title | Plasma cortisol, luteinizing hormone and Testosterone levels in human AfricanTrypanosomiasis patients from western Kenya | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | School of Medicine | en |