CONTEXT: The accuracy of the glucagon test in the diagnosis of central adrenal insufficiency in young children has not yet been definitively established. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the glucagon test as an alternative to the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in children with GH deficiency under 6 yr of age. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a prospective study conducted in two Pediatric Endocrinology Centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight children (median age, 4.2 yr) with GH deficiency confirmed by a peak GH to ITT and arginine less than 10 microg/liter were enrolled: 24 with normal hypothalamic-pituitary anatomy, seven with isolated anterior pituitary hypoplasia, and 17 with structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities at magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve subjects had central adrenal insufficiency defined by a peak cortisol response of less than 20 microg/dl to ITT. All children underwent a glucagon stimulation test with blood sampling for cortisol and glucose (time 0 to 180 min) after the im administration of 30 microg/kg of glucagon. RESULTS: The mean peak cortisol after glucagon was not significantly different from that obtained after ITT in the whole cohort (25.9 vs. 26.0 microg/dl; P = 0.908), and it was significantly reduced in patients with structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the best diagnostic accuracy was obtained with a peak cortisol cutoff to glucagon of 14.6 microg/dl (sensitivity, 66.67%; specificity, 100%; area under the curve = 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99). Using this cutoff, 91.67% of the patients were correctly classified. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glucagon is an accurate and safe diagnostic test for adrenal function in young children who are at risk for adrenal insufficiency.
CONTEXT: The accuracy of the glucagon test in the diagnosis of central adrenal insufficiency in young children has not yet been definitively established. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the glucagon test as an alternative to the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in children with GH deficiency under 6 yr of age. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a prospective study conducted in two Pediatric Endocrinology Centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight children (median age, 4.2 yr) with GH deficiency confirmed by a peak GH to ITT and arginine less than 10 microg/liter were enrolled: 24 with normal hypothalamic-pituitary anatomy, seven with isolated anterior pituitary hypoplasia, and 17 with structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities at magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve subjects had central adrenal insufficiency defined by a peak cortisol response of less than 20 microg/dl to ITT. All children underwent a glucagon stimulation test with blood sampling for cortisol and glucose (time 0 to 180 min) after the im administration of 30 microg/kg of glucagon. RESULTS: The mean peak cortisol after glucagon was not significantly different from that obtained after ITT in the whole cohort (25.9 vs. 26.0 microg/dl; P = 0.908), and it was significantly reduced in patients with structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the best diagnostic accuracy was obtained with a peak cortisol cutoff to glucagon of 14.6 microg/dl (sensitivity, 66.67%; specificity, 100%; area under the curve = 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99). Using this cutoff, 91.67% of the patients were correctly classified. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glucagon is an accurate and safe diagnostic test for adrenal function in young children who are at risk for adrenal insufficiency.
Authors: Kevin C J Yuen; Beverly M K Biller; Laurence Katznelson; Sharon A Rhoads; Michelle H Gurel; Olivia Chu; Valentina Corazzini; Kellie Spiller; Murray B Gordon; Roberto Salvatori; David M Cook Journal: Pituitary Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 4.107
Authors: A Ciresi; S Radellini; E Vigneri; V Guarnotta; J Bianco; M G Mineo; C Giordano Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2017-08-18 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Amir H Hamrahian; Kevin C J Yuen; Murray B Gordon; Karen J Pulaski-Liebert; James Bena; Beverly M K Biller Journal: Pituitary Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 4.107
Authors: Karen E Huang; Steven D Mittelman; Thomas D Coates; Mitchell E Geffner; John C Wood Journal: J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 1.289