Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Quiz: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (Answers)

Check your answers if correct:

1. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
2. Anterior Pituitary Gland
3. Germ cell
4. 1.24 – 7.8 mlU/L
5. True
6. Decreased FSH level
7. Increased FSH level
8. Increased FSH level
9. Decreased FSH level
10. Increased FSH level

Case analysis:

The girl has a delayed puberty and may be suffering from a Gonodal failure, hormone deficiency or Turner's syndrome.

Another test that can be performed is to test the response of LH to GnRH to diagnose possible reasons for a delayed puberty.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Quiz: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

How much do you know?

1. Transcribe FSH
2. Where FSH is synthesized and secreted
3. FSH stimulates the maturation of what cell
4. Normal FSH in a 20 year old male
5. True or False: FSH is a glycoprotein

Increased or decreased FSH
6. Anorexia
7. Alcoholism
8. Menopausal Stage
9. Sheehan’s syndrome
10. Hypopituarism

Case analysis:

A 15 yr. old girl looks at the mirror and she notices that her breast doesn't seem to be growing bigger, she has not yet experienced her first menstruation period and she doesn't look like a girl who is on her puberty.

Her FSH level is below the normal level of a youth within the age range of puberty. What can be the diagnosis of the test? What other tests can be performed?


Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

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A protein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. FSH causes growth of follicles in the ovaries and sperm maturation in Sertoli cells of testes.

Evaluation of FSH supports other studies related to determining causes of hypothyroidism in women and endocrine dysfunction in men. In primary ovarian failure or testicular failure, FSH levels are increased.

Why is it done?

o   To help in finding the cause of infertility

o   Menstrual problem evaluation

o   To help diagnosing pituitary gland disorder

o   To determine if the child is going through an early or a delayed puberty

Precautions

o   Recently administered radioisotopes may interfere with the results

o   Hemolysis of blood sample is not acceptable

o   Estrogen or oral contraceptives should not be taken before the test

o   Several drugs affect the outcome

o   Sometimes multiple blood specimens are necessary because of episodic releases of FSH from the pituitary gland. An isolated sample may not indicate the actual activity; therefore, pooled blood specimens or multiple single blood specimens may be required.

Normal Values

          Male                                 1.24 – 7.8 mlU/L

          Female

                   Postmenopausal       14.2 – 52.3 mlU/L

                   Luteal                    0.61 – 16.3 mlU/L

                   Follicular                1.68 – 15 mlU/L

                   Ovulatory Peak                  21.9 – 15 mlU/L


Clinical Significance


Decreased FSH level

o   Anorexia

o   Hemochromatosis

o   Polycystic ovarian disease

o   Neoplasm of testes or adrenal glands

o   Sheehan’s syndrome


Increased FSH level

o   Turner’s syndrome

o   Alcoholism

o   Menopause or menstrual disorder

o   Castration

o   Klinefelter’s syndrome

o   Precocious puberty

o   Hypopituitarism

 

         

References

-          Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods,21st edition; edited by Richard A. McPherson and Matthew R. Pincus

-          Clinical Chemistry: Principles, Procedures, Correlations, 5th edition

-          Text Book of Medical Physiology, 11th edition; Guyton & Hall

-          http://women.webmd.com/follicle-stimulating-hormone