Abstract

Background: Turner syndrome (Ts) is a natural model for the analysis of insufficient function of the ovaries on the operation of other organs, e. g. pancreas, intestine or stomach. Ts patients demonstrated a more frequent occurrence of impaired carbohydrate metabolism, and its pathogenesis has not been fully explained yet. Theoretical data imply that the change of entero-pancreatic axis activity may play a role in this phenomenon. The aim of the study was to explain the influence of selected enterohormones (EH) and pancreatic hormones (PH) on the condition of systemic dyshormonism as well as to define the role of these hormones in the maintenance of carbohydrate homeostasis (taking into consideration their influence upon potential diabetes occurrence) in Ts patients.
Results/Conclusions: 1. The changes in the profiles of basal serum concentrations of enterohormones (IG, GIP) and pancreatic hormones (IRI, CRP, PP) confirm their part in the regulation of impaired carbohydrate metabolism which occurs in patients without oestrogenic function of the gonads in the course of Turner syndrome. 2. The decreased incretin function of entero-pancreatic axis, preceding the occurrence of diabetes, may be responsible for the impairment of carbohydrate metabolism which develops with Ts patients' age.
Material/Methods:The study included 13 patients with Turner syndrome, with 45, X karyotype, aged 4-23. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was applied in order to determine basal serum concentrations of selected PH (IRI, CRP, PP) and EH (IG and GP).

Keywords: Turner, glucose tolerance, entero-pancreatic axis, enterohormones