[FSH, LH, prolactin and testosterone levels in peripheral blood and urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in patients after removal of chromophobe adenoma of the pituitary gland].

The aim of the study was clinical evaluation of a new marker of pituitary tumours--the alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones. The studies were performed in 152 patients with manifestations of intersellar tumours; an elevated serum alpha subunit concentration was found in 49 of these cases. The determinations of alpha subunit were performed by double antibody radioimmunoassay. Iodination of alpha subunit was made by chloramine T technique with subsequent purification of Ultrogel AcA54 column. The remaining pituitary hormones were also determined by radioimmunoassay. The incidence of pituitary tumours of alphoma type was 30 percent. Tumours occurred frequently in association with an increased serum growth hormone and manifestations of acromegaly, less frequently with hyperprolactinemia and signs of prolactinoma. Following neurosurgery of 60Co pituitary irradiation hypopituitarism was of high occurrence.