This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vitale, G. Articles by Lupoli, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vitale, G. Articles by Lupoli, G.

Influence of Body Surface Area on Serum Peak Thyrotropin (TSH) Levels after Recombinant Human TSH Administration

Dipartimento di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Molecolare e Clinica (G.V., G.A.L., A.C., M.R.F., F.F., A.P., G.L.), Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Scienze Cardiovascolari ed Immunologiche (A.L.), Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80127 Napoli, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Giovanni Lupoli, Dipartimento di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Molecolare e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Via Tasso 113, 80127 Naples, Italy. E-mail: lupoli{at}unina.it or gelsyl{at}hotmail.com.

Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) has been proposed as an alternative method to the withdrawal of thyroid hormones in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of several demographic and anthropometric parameters [age, body weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area (BSA)] on serum peak TSH levels after rhTSH administration.

rhTSH was administered to 112 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma according to the conventional two-dose schedule (0.9 mg/d). Serum TSH levels were measured 24 h before and after the first administration of rhTSH, and then 24, 48, and 72 h after the second administration of rhTSH.

In one severely obese patient, serum peak TSH values did not reach a valid stimulation range. Serum peak TSH levels were negatively related to body weight (r = -0.69; P < 0.0001), body mass index (r = -0.51; P < 0.0001), and BSA (r = -0.72; P < 0.0001). In a multivariate regression analysis including demographic and anthropometric variables, only BSA was independently associated to serum peak TSH concentrations (standardized ß coefficient = -0.721; P < 0.0001).

In conclusion, body size seems to influence serum peak TSH levels after rhTSH administration. Future studies should evaluate the possibility of using personalized rhTSH doses, adjusted in relation to BSA.

Abbreviations: BMI, Body mass index; BSA, body surface area; rhTSH, recombinant human TSH.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B Jarzab, D Handkiewicz-Junak, and J Wloch Juvenile differentiated thyroid carcinoma and the role of radioiodine in its treatment: a qualitative review Endocr. Relat. Cancer, December 1, 2005; 12(4): 773 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Iorcansky, V. Herzovich, R. R. Qualey, and R. M. Tuttle Serum Thyrotropin (TSH) Levels after Recombinant Human TSH Injections in Children and Teenagers with Papillary Thyroid Cancer J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2005; 90(12): 6553 - 6555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Castagna, A. Pinchera, A. Marsili, M. Giannetti, E. Molinaro, P. Fierabracci, L. Grasso, F. Pacini, F. Santini, and R. Elisei Influence of Human Body Composition on Serum Peak Thyrotropin (TSH) after Recombinant Human TSH Administration in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2005; 90(7): 4047 - 4050. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]