Endocrine Abstracts

Acromegaly alters elasticity, structure and function of the respiratory system and respiratory disorders constitute 25% of all deaths recorded in acromegalic patients. Respiratory mortality is three fold higher than in normal subjects. However, respiratory dysfunction in acromegaly has seldom been investigated.

We aimed to evaluate the extent of pulmonary dysfunction in acromegalic patients with respiratory function tests (RFT). Sixty one acromegalic patients and 21 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. Lung volumes, flow volume curves and diffusion capacity were evaluated with RFT. Serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF1) were measured. Results of RFT parameters are shown in Table 1. Differences in these parameters remained significant in males after excluding females although GH levels were similar between both sexes in acromegalic patients. Other parameters of RFT were not different from controls. We found a weak but positive correlation between GH and forced expiratory flow 25/75 (FEF 25/75) (R=0.261, P<0.019) in acromegalic patients.

Our results show that lung volumes (TLC) and diffusion capacity (DLCO) are elevated in male acromegalic patients. Obstruction parameters (FEV1/FVC, FEF25–27) were similar between groups. Our results indicate that acromegaly increases lung volumes and diffusion capacity in males without causing airways obstruction. Elevated lung volume and diffusion capacity may be a consequence of GH induced organomegaly. We found a weak but positive correlation between serum GH levels and FEF 25/75.