The Thyrotropin and Prolactin Reserves in Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

Abstract

Summary: Twenty four children were studied to determine the state of thyroid stimula ting hormone (TSH) and prolactin (PRL) reserve in the pituitary gland in kwa shiorkor and marasmus. The basal serum TSH was raised in the kwashiorkor (3.84U/ml = 2.2, p<0.05) and marasmus groups (3.9 = 1.84U/ml, p<0.025) when compared with the controls (2.4 + 0.6U/ml). There was a prompt and signi ficant rise of TSH in response to intravenous synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in kwashiorkor (p<0.005) and marasmus (p<0.0005) as with the controls (p<0.0005). The basal serum PRL levels in the kwashiorkor and marasmus groups were not significantly different from that of the control group (12.1 £ 4.5ng/ml, 14.1 5.3ng/ml and 16.2 + 4.7 ng/ml respectively). The res ponse of the serum PRL to intravenous synthetic TRH showed prompt and signi ficant rise in the kwashiorkor group (p<0.0005), the marasmus group (p<0.0005), and the controls (p <0.0005). It is therefore, concluded that the reserve of TSH and PRL in the pituitary gland is adequate in kwashiorkor and marasmus.