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Treatment with mirtazapine, a widely prescribed antidepressant, has been linked to weight gain and dyslipidemia. Whether dyslipidemia occurs secondary to increased appetite due to antidepressant treatment, or due to direct pharmacological effects of mirtazapine is unknown. The aim of this analysis is to complement our previously published results of the effect of mirtazapine on metabolism and energy substrate partitioning from a proof-of-concept, open-label clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00878540) in 12 healthy males (20–25 years). We report the effect of a seven-day administration of mirtazapine 30 mg per day on weight and lipid metabolism in healthy men under highly standardized conditions with respect to diet, physical activity and day-night-rhythm and under continuous clinical observation. After a 7-day administration of mirtazapine 30 mg, we observed a statistically significant increase in triglyceride levels (mean change + 4.4 mg/dl; 95% CI [– 11.4; 2.6]; p = 0.044) as well as TG/HDL-C ratio (mean change + 0.2; 95% CI [– 0.4; 0.1]; p = 0.019) and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol (mean change – 4.3 mg/dl; 95% CI [2.1; 6.5]; p = 0.004), LDL-cholesterol (mean change – 8.7 mg/dl; 95% CI [3.8; 13.5]; p = 0.008), total cholesterol (mean change – 12.3 mg/dl; 95% CI [5.4; 19.1]; p = 0.005), and non-HDL-C (mean change – 8.0 mg/dl; 95% CI [1.9; 14.0]; p = 0.023). Notably, weight (mean change – 0.6 kg; 95% CI [0.4; 0.8]; p = 0.002) and BMI (mean change – 0.2; 95% CI [0.1; 0.2]; p = 0.002) significantly decreased. No change in waist circumference (mean change – 0.4 cm; 95% CI [– 2.1; 2.9]; p = 0.838) or waist-to-hip-ratio (mean change 0.0; 95% CI [– 0.0; 0.0]; p = 0.814) was observed. This is the first study showing unfavorable changes in lipid metabolism under mirtazapine in healthy individuals despite highly standardized conditions including dietary restriction, and despite the observation of a decrease of weight. Our findings support the hypothesis that mirtazapine has direct pharmacological effects on lipid metabolism. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00878540.

European Patient Advocacy Groups (ePAGs) within the Endo-ERN identified a lack of knowledge about quality of care (QoC) of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN). The aim of this study was to identify inequalities in care and to encourage improvements. The European MEN Alliance (EMENA) developed and conducted a survey, using the European Commissions’ EUSurvey platform. Patient groups and healthcare professionals (HCPs) distributed the survey. A total of 288 participants completed the survey (MEN1 n = 203, MEN2 n = 67, MEN3 n = 18) from 18 European countries. The majority of respondents were recruited via patient groups (58%), aged between 41 and 60 years (53%) and were female (67%). All participants reported having been diagnosed on average 5.58 years (95%-CI: 4.45–6.60) after first symptoms occurred. This timeframe was lower in the group with MEN2 (2.97 years, 95%-CI: 1.37–4.57). Most of the participants (67%) received their diagnosis by a positive gene test after presenting with one or more MEN-related tumours. Overall QoC was rated as either “good” (43%) or “excellent” (36%). The results of this unique Europe-wide, patient-driven survey on QoC of patients with MEN show that ratings for overall QoC were lower than ratings for different aspects of care. This may be because of the complex nature of care for genetic syndromes. Furthermore, patients who connect with patient groups may be deemed “expert patients” whose answers are not representative of the overall MEN patient community. We hope that Endo-ERN can support further education and training for HCPs based on these results.

In der Diabetestherapie spielt neben Medikamenten auch die Ernahrung eine wichtige Rolle. Hierbei ist vor allem auf Obst, Gemuse und Vollkornprodukte zu achten. Welcher Benefit ist daruber hinaus von Nahrungerganzungsmitteln wie Zimt und Vitamin D zu erwarten?

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and 2 are hereditary cancer syndromes. They are characterized by the occurrence of many benign and malignant tumor types, in MEN1 parathyroid tumors, pituitary tumors, and pancreas tumors, in MEN2 medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid tumors. The autosomal dominant inherited tumor syndromes are caused by mutations in the MEN1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene, and mutations in the RET gene, an activated oncogene, in MEN2. The clinical expression of the different tumors can vary within and between families, with a good genotype-phenotype correlation in MEN2. Early diagnosis and therapy is possible by using biochemical and imaging screening in the families. Early thyroidectomy in young patients with MEN2 results in a high cure rate of MTC.

Zwischen Storungen des Glukosestoffwechsels in Form eines Diabetes mellitus und definierten Hormonstorungen im Sinne klassischer endokrinologischer Erkrankungen bestehen wichtige Schnittstellen. Dies sollten Sie bei der Betreuung von Diabetespatienten beachten.

Mittlerweile gibt es immer mehr Hinweise, dass das Mikrobiom auch bei der Entstehung von Diabetes mellitus eine Rolle spielt. Welche aktuellen und zukunftigen Moglichkeiten sich daraus fur die Therapie ergeben, fasst der nachfolgende Beitrag zusammen.

BACKGROUND. Weight gain and metabolic changes during treatment with antidepressant drugs have emerged as an important concern, particularly in long-term treatment. It is still a matter of ongoing debate whether weight gain and metabolic perturbations with antidepressant use are the consequence of increased appetite and weight gain, respectively, or represents direct pharmacological effects of the drug on metabolism. METHODS. We therefore conducted a proof-of-concept, open-label clinical trial, hypothesizing that in exceptionally healthy men no change of metabolic parameters would occur under mirtazapine, when environmental factors such as nutrition, sleep, and physical exercise were controlled and kept constant. Over a 3-week preparation phase, 10 healthy, young men were attuned to a standardized diet adjusted to their individual caloric need, to a regular sleep/wake cycle and moderate exercise. Continuing this protocol, we administered 30 mg mirtazapine daily for 7 days. RESULTS. While no significant weight gain or changes in resting energy expenditure were observed under these conditions, hunger and appetite for sweets increased with mirtazapine, accompanied by a shift in energy substrate partitioning towards carbohydrate substrate preference as assessed by indirect calorimetry. Furthermore, with mirtazapine, insulin and C-peptide release increased in response to a standardized meal. CONCLUSION. Our findings provide important insights into weight-independent metabolic changes associated with mirtazapine and allow a better understanding of the long-term metabolic effects observed in patients treated with antidepressant drugs. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00878540","term_id":"NCT00878540"}}NCT00878540. FUNDING. Nothing to declare.

Leidet Ihr Patient unter Stimmungsschwankungen und sexueller Unlust? Und ist bei ihm zusatzlich ein metabolisches Syndrom bekannt? Dann sollten Sie einen Hypogonadismus abklaren und eine Testosteronsubsti­tution ins Auge fassen. Einer aktuellen Metaana­lyse zufolge profitieren adipose Manner mit metabolischen Storungen von Testosteron im Hinblick auf ihr kardiovaskulares Risiko.

Study objectives Recent evidence suggests that certain antidepressants are associated with an increase of periodic leg movements (PLMS) that may disturb sleep. So far, this has been shown in patients clinically treated for depression and in cross-sectional studies for various substances, but not mirtazapine. It is unclear whether antidepressants induce the new onset of PLMS or only increase preexisting PLMS, and whether this is a general property of the antidepressant or only seen in depressed patients. We report here the effect of mirtazapine on PLMS in young healthy men. Design Open-labeled clinical trial (NCT00878540) including a 3-week preparatory phase with standardized food, physical activity, and sleep-wake behavior, and a 10-day experimental inpatient phase with an adaptation day, 2 baseline days, and 7 days with mirtazapine. Setting Research institute. Participants Twelve healthy young (20-25 years) men. Interventions Seven days of nightly intake (22:00) of 30 mg mirtazapine. Measurements and results Sleep was recorded on 2 drug-free baseline nights, the first 2 drug nights, and the last 2 drug nights. Eight of the 12 subjects showed increased PLMS after the first dose of mirtazapine. Frequency of PLMS was highest on the first drug night and attenuated over the course of the next 6 days. Three subjects reported transient restless legs symptoms. Conclusions Mirtazapine provoked PLMS in 67% of young healthy males. The effect was most pronounced in the first days. The possible role of serotonergic, noradrenergic and histaminergic mechanisms in mirtazapine-induced PLMS is discussed.

Sexuelle Funktionsstorungen sind bei Diabetikern relativ haufig und sollten deshalb bei jeder Anamnese mit angesprochen werden. Allgemein- und Hausarzten, die die Gesamtsituation dieser Patienten oft am besten kennen, kommt dabei eine besondere Rolle zu. Der nachfolgende Beitrag zeigt Unterschiede zwischen Mannern und Frauen auf und erlautert, was Sie bei Diagnostik und Therapie beachten mussen.

Medikamente, die potenziell eine gestorte Glukosetoleranz oder einen iatrogenen Diabetes mellitus verursachen konnen, gehoren mit zu den am haufigsten verordneten Arzneimitteln. Bei welchen Medikamenten Sie mit einer Verschlechterung eines bestehenden Diabetes mellitus rechnen, an welche Kontrollen und Therapieanpassungen Sie denken mussen, lesen Sie im nachfolgenden Beitrag.

Background: Multiple-endocrine-neoplasia-type-1 (MEN1) is an autosomal-dominant inherited disorder characterized by the combined occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP), adenomas of the pituitary gland (APA), adrenal cortical tumors (ADR) and other tumors. As the tumors appear in an unpredictable schedule, uncertainty about screening programs is persisting. Objective: To optimize screening and to analyze possible differences in sporadic versus familial cases. Methods: We analyzed data of 419 individuals including 306 MEN-1 patients (138 isolated and168 familial cases out of 102 unrelated families). Results: A total of 683 tumors occurred consisting of 273 pHPT, 138 APA, 166 GEP, 57 ADR, 24 thymic- and bronchial-carcinoids as well as 25 neoplasms of other tissues. The age-related penetrance was determined as 10%, 35%, 67%, 81% and 100% at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 65 years respectively. Although pHPT being the most frequent first manifestation (41%), also GEP (22%) or APA (21 %) were found to be the first presentation. APA occurred significantly more frequent (p

Introduction: The association of thyroid disorders (TDs) and mood disorders is a well-investigated empirical finding. Although TDs are highly prevalent in patients with major depression (MD), the impact of TDs on treatment outcome has been sparsely investigated. Methods: Treatment Response was analyzed in 704 in-patients with MD participating in the Munich Antidepressant Response Signature (MARS) project, a large observational naturalistic psychopharmacological treatment study. TD was defined by thyroid hormone substitution, morphological thyroid gland abnormalities, or thyroid autoimmunity. Treatment response was measured by weekly Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) assessments during 6 weeks. All patients were euthyroid at baseline. TSH levels were analyzed for potential prediction of treatment outcome. Results: MD patients with TD (n = 172) displayed a significantly impaired treatment outcome compared to MD patients without TD (n = 532) in response rates after 6 weeks (p = 7.4E-04), remission rate at discharge (p = 0.018) as well as in mean HDRS change after 6 weeks (p = 0.019). These differences were most pronounced under treatment with Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). TSH levels were not associated with treatment outcome. Discussion: Our results suggest that MD patients with comorbid TD may be at risk for impaired treatment outcome. Replication and substantiation of these findings could inform differential antidepressant therapy for these patients.

Objective: For patients in whom acromegaly persists despite pituitary surgery or drug treatment, gamma-knife surgery represents an additional treatment option. Considering carefully the different reported biochemical outcomes, the central point is whether gamma-knife radiosurgery has advantages compared to conventional radiotherapy or, furthermore, to newer medical therapies, such as long-acting somatostatin analogues or growth hormone receptor antagonists. Design and Methods: We report the outcome of 44 patients with acromegaly, who received gamma-knife surgery with the Leksell gamma knife. The median follow-up time was 1.9 years (0.5-4.3 years) post-radiosurgery. 43 of 44 patients had previously undergone pituitary surgery. Results: Immediately prior to gamma-knife surgery, median xULN of patients' serum IGF-I was 1.9 times above upper limit of normal (range: 0.5-8.9 xULN [multiple of upper limit of normal range]). There was a significant decline of serum IGF-I at patients' final follow-up. We found a normal age-adjusted IGF-I in 21/44 patients (xULN of IGF-I < 1). Furthermore, as the number of treated patients increased, we found an improvement in remission rate, which let us assume that there was a learning effect for the gamma-knife performing team over time. In addition, the median adenoma size decreased from 1.5ml (0.1-6.9 ml) prior to gamma-knife therapy to 0.3 ml (no rest vol. detectable -2.4 ml) at patients' last visit. Conclusion: We have shown that pituitary gamma-knife surgery is effective in lowering serum IGF-I levels. At the end of the follow-up period, 48% of our cohort had normal age-adjusted IGF-I levels.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a member of the gp130 cytokine family, is considered to be an important modulator of function and growth in endocrine anterior pituitary cells. In pituitary adenomas, where IL-6 is often produced by the tumour cells, it is thought to be involved in pituitary adenoma pathophysiology via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. METHODS: We have studied in primary cell cultures of human somatotroph adenomas whether IL-6 stimulates growth hormone secretion and whether intratumoral IL-6 is affected by various IL-6-regulating factors. RESULTS: Interleukin-6 stimulated GH secretion in 10 out of 11 somatotroph adenoma cultures (1.4- to 6.5-fold above basal levels). In comparative studies the GH-stimulatory potency of IL-6 was identical, or even stronger, than that of GHRH. In eight out of 11 adenoma cell cultures, IL-6 production was observed. This suggests that GH production might be stimulated by IL-6 in an autocrine/paracrine manner in these tumours. Dexamethasone strongly inhibited basal IL-6 secretion in all IL-6-producing adenoma cell cultures, whereas the IL-6 inhibitory or stimulatory action of other factors (octreotide, transforming growth factor-beta1, insulin-like growth factor-I, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide and oestradiol) were heterogeneous in the different adenomas. Only transforming growth factor-alpha consistently stimulated IL-6 secretion in all of the adenomas studied. CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoral IL-6, which is differently regulated by various factors, might contribute to excessive GH production in the majority of somatotroph adenomas.

Profound alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) systems at the hypophyseal level have been described in affective disorder. To precisely characterize the basal alterations of both axes during sleep, we simultaneously investigated sleep EEG and the secretion of thyrotropin, ACTH and cortisol in nine drug-free male patients with depression in comparison to 10 healthy age and sex matched controls. In depressed patients the nearly diametrical nocturnal secretion of thyrotropin and ACTH was disturbed by significantly blunted thyrotropin values (TSH AUC 51.96+/-5.68 vs. 87.23+/-13.63, P

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a classic hereditary tumor syndrome characterized by a genetic predisposition to develop a variety of neuroendocrine neoplasias and hormone excess syndromes. The disease is caused by inactivating mutations of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene, detectable in >95% of MEN1 families. The distinction of MEN1-associated tumors from sporadic neuroendocrine neoplasias is clinically important for providing optimal surgical and medical therapy, appropriate clinical follow-up, and counsel for affected patients and their families. Since MEN1 gene analysis became available in 1997, new diagnostic approaches have evolved in clinical management, to be reviewed in this article. Genetic screening of MEN1 families will allow definition of individual disease risk at a preclinical stage, thus helping to allocate medical resources and treatment as individually needed. These new diagnostic approaches are expected to reduce MEN1-associated morbidity and mortality, health care expenses, and psychological disease burden.

OBJECTIVES: The case presented here describes the clinical evolution of a malignant prolactinoma with occurrence of intra- and extra-cranial metastases. In this case, the presence of dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) was studied at the mRNA and protein level, in order to understand the pathological background of the resistance to treatment with different dopamine agonists. DESIGN: Together with an extensive description of the clinical history of this case, a combination of in vitro and in vivo techniques was performed to provide the basis of the dopamine resistance developed in the course of the disease. METHOD: A comparison of the D2R was performed in specimens obtained at presentation of the disease compared with autoptic specimens derived from local invasion and metastasis using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: Intact D2R mRNA was found in the primitive tumor and metastatic tissues, whereas protein for the same receptor was present only in the tissues derived from neurosurgical operations and not in the metastases obtained post-mortem. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the absence of D2R protein despite the retention of the transcript in an advanced stage of a malignant prolactinoma. The findings of this single case suggest the hypothesis that postranscriptional mechanisms may contribute to the development of dopamine resistance in prolactinomas.

Noch zu wenig im Blick haben viele Arzte ein moglicherweise erhohtes Frakturrisiko bei Diabetikern. Im nachfolgenden Beitrag lesen Sie, welche Faktoren dafur verantwortlich sind und welche prophylaktischen Masnahmen ergriffen werden konnen.

Als Goldstandard zur Behandlung des metabolischen Syndroms oder des Typ-2-Diabetes gilt eine kohlenhydratbetonte, fettreduzierte Reduktionsdiat nach den Empfehlungen der deutschen Gesellschaft fur Ernahrung (DGE). Die Gesamtenergie verteilt sich hier zu 45–60% auf Kohlenhydrate, zu 35% auf Fett und zu 15% auf Eiweis. Alternativ werden in Fachkreisen seit einigen Jahren kohlenhydrat reduzierte Ernahrungsformen diskutiert. In aktuellen Studien wurden die beiden Ansatze nun verglichen.

Impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes have been associated with depression, and antidepressant treatment is assumed to improve impaired glucose tolerance. However, antidepressant treatment is also considered as a risk factor for the development of diabetes. Reports about glucose tolerance under antidepressant treatment frequently lack appropriate control groups. We conducted the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 10 healthy controls selected from an epidemiological sample with a negative lifetime history of mental Axis I disorder. Controls were carefully matched to a sample of inpatients with major depression that participated in an OGTT before and after antidepressant treatment with mirtazapine. All participants underwent a standard OGTT protocol. In patients, a second (after 2 weeks) and a third (after 4-6 weeks) OGTT was performed under treatment with mirtazapine. Compared to healthy controls, we observed significantly impaired glucose tolerance in acutely depressed patients. Effect size calculation indicated a moderate to large effects on glucose and insulin concentrations in response to an OGTT. Although glucose tolerance improved under mirtazapine treatment, insulin sensitivity was still impaired and remained significantly lower in patients compared to controls.

Enhanced sialylation of thyrotropin (TSH) prolongs its metabolic clearance rate and thus increases the hormone's in vivo bioactivity. This has been shown for hypothyroid rats and for recombinant human TSH, but there are few data on the sialylation of human serum TSH. The aim of this work was to further study sialylated human serum TSH, its precursors bearing terminal galactose residues, and the role of pharmacological doses of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on their secretion under different degrees of primary hypothyroidism. We analyzed serum TSH in patients with subclinical (n = 9) and overt primary hypothyroidism (n = 13) compared with euthyroid individuals (n = 12) and human standard pituitary TSH (IRP 80/558). Blood was drawn before and 30 min after intravenous administration of 200 micrograms TRH, and TSH was purified by immunoaffinity concentration. The content of sialylated (sialo-) TSH and isoforms bearing terminal galactose (Gal-TSH, asialo-Gal-TSH) was measured by Ricinus communis (RCA 120) affinity chromatography in combination with enzymatic cleavage of sialic acid residues. TSH immunoreactivity was measured by an automated second generation TSH immunoassay. Pituitary TSH contained 16.5 +/- 0.8% Gal-TSH. In euthyroid individuals the proportion of Gal-TSH was 14.6 +/- 1.9%, whereas TSH in patients with subclinical and overt primary hypothyroidism contained 23.9 +/- 3.5% (P < 0.05 vs euthyroid individuals) and 21.1 +/- 1.7% Gal-TSH respectively. The mean ratio of asialo-Gal TSH was 23.8 +/- 0.6% for pituitary TSH, 35.7 +/- 4.2% in euthyroid individuals, 48.0 +/- 3.3% in patients with subclinical, and 61.5 +/- 3.8% (P < 0.001 vs euthyroid individuals) in patients with overt primary hypothyroidism. For pituitary TSH the calculated proportion of sialo-TSH was 6.5 +/- 0.2%, for euthyroid individuals 20.3 +/- 2.8%, for patients with subclinical hypothyroidism 24.1 +/- 3.0%, and for patients with overt primary hypothyroidism 40.7 +/- 3.0% (P < 0.001 vs euthyroid individuals). The proportions of Gal-TSH, asialo-Gal-TSH, and sialo-TSH did not differ significantly before and after TRH administration in the individuals studied. Our data show that patients with subclinical and overt primary hypothyroidism have a markedly increased proportion of serum TSH isoforms bearing terminal galactose and sialic acid residues, which may represent a mechanism for the further stimulation of thyroid function. Pharmacological doses of TRH cause an increased quantity of TSH to be released, but do not significantly alter the proportion of sialylated or terminally galactosylated TSH isoforms.

The purpose of this study was to assess, in relation to metabolic control, the cognitive, depressive, and anxiety symptoms among 40 adult patients (age: 18-60 years) with either type 1 (n = 28) or type 2 (n = 12) diabetes mellitus (DM1, DM2). Nineteen healthy subjects matched for age, gender, and education served as the control group. For most cognitive domains, no significant performance differences were found between subjects from the diabetic groups and control subjects. However, diabetes patients demonstrated reduced information processing accuracy along with impaired visual and verbal working memory performance. In addition, psychopathology scores were significantly elevated but did not reach the clinical criteria for depression or anxiety. Overall, there were no significant differences between diabetic subgroups, and no significant correlation was found between cognitive performance, psychopathology scores, and HbA1c values for either subgroup. Thus, patients with DM1 or DM2 may show mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment as well as subtle psychopathological symptoms. While cognitive impairments may be understood in terms of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction, psychopathological symptoms may also result from unsuccessful coping with high task demands in everyday life activities. The outcome of the current study underscores the importance of early clinical neuropsychological standardized assessment as well as the diagnosis of cognitive and psychopathological symptoms in adult patients with diabetes.

Objective In multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), age-related tumour penetrance according to the type of MEN1 germline mutation has not been investigated in-depth. This study was conducted to examine whether carriers of out-of-frame/truncating and in-frame MEN1 mutations differ in age-related tumour penetrance. Design A multicentre study with biochemical, hormonal and radiological screening for MEN1-associated tumours. Patients A total of 258 MEN1 carriers from six major German tertiary referral centres averaging 43 years of age at last follow-up. Measurements Main outcome measure was time to first diagnosis of MEN1-associated tumours. Results Independent of the year of birth and observation period, time to first tumour diagnosis did not vary much by the type of MEN1 germline mutation or endocrine organ system, and perhaps not even by the type of endocrine tumour when the amount of time was considered by which the diagnosis probably has been advanced through the manifestation of hormonal symptoms. Parathyroid hyperplasia and adenomas developed almost twice as often as enteropancreatic and pituitary tumours (77% vs. 49-32%), and more than five to sevenfold as often as adrenal cortical tumours and carcinoids (77% vs. 15-10%), reaching penetrance rates of up to 90%, 60%, 40%, 26% and 17%, respectively. The heterogeneity of tumour penetrance was marked, ranging from 9 years to 25 years for the earliest, and from 68 years to 77 years for the latest tumour manifestation. Conclusions Because of our inability of predicting tumour penetrance and malignant transformation individually, life-long follow-up of MEN1 carriers is warranted to prevent tumour morbidity.

Objective: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at moderate risk of GH deficiency (GHD), requiring a diagnostic test with high specificity. The GHRH + arginine (GHRH + ARG) test has been recommended as a reliable alternative to the insulin-tolerance test (ITT) as a standard test with a cutoff level of 9 ng/ml. However, it has recently been questioned for its low specificity in obese subjects, and now BMI-dependent cut-off levels are available. In this study, we compared the ITT and GHRH + ARG test in patients with TBI. Design: A cross-sectional study Methods: We performed an ITT and a GHRH + ARG test in 21 patients with TBI (6 women, 15 men; mean age 40.2 ± 12.1 years; BMI 30.7 ± 6.2). The number of patients classified discordantly as GH deficient by the ITT and the GHRH + ARG test with both classical and BMI-dependent cut-off levels was assessed. Results: Using the GHRH + ARG test with the classical cut-off (≤ 9 ng/ml), we identified 12 patients as GH deficient who had a normal GH response to ITT (> 3 ng/ml), and one patient as GH sufficient who had a blunted GH response to ITT (discordance rate 61.9%). All patients discordantly classified as GH deficient by the GHRH + ARG test had a BMI of ≥ 28. With the BMI-dependent cut-offs (4.2, 8.0, and 11.5 ng/ml in obese, overweight, and lean subjects respectively), only 3 of the 21 patients were discordantly classified (discordance rate 14.3%). Conclusions: Our results discourage the use of a cut-off level of 9 ng/ml for the GHRH + ARG test in obese subjects. The diagnostic reliability of this test is improved with the BMI-dependent cut-offs.