Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To ascertain epidemiology and outcomes in Maltese patients with acromegaly.Method: Retrospective case record study of acromegalic patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2008.Results: Forty-seven patients were recruited (25 females and 22 males). The prevalence of acromegaly in the Maltese population was 11.4 per 100 000 population. Of 77% had a macroadenoma (53% extrasellar, 24% intrasellar). Of 15% had a microadenoma. Two tumour...

Aim: To evaluate epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment and subsequent outcomes in Maltese patients with NFPA.Methods: Retrospective case record study of all patients with NFPA.Results: Forty-eight patients with a NFPA were identified with an estimated prevalence of 1.16 per 10 000 population. 58% of these were male and the mean age at presentation was 50.6 years (S.D. 13.4 years) (men – 52.5 years; wome...

Aim: To assess the impact of acromegaly on quality of life (QoL) as evaluated by the acromegaly QoL (AcroQoL) questionnaire in Maltese patients with cured, controlled and uncontrolled acromegaly.Design: Cross-sectional survey study.Methods: The AcroQol questionnaire was completed by all patients during their routine outpatient visit. Clinical and hormonal data including GH and IGF1 levels were also taken at the time of survey.<...

Recently the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor – interacting protein (AIP) gene attracted attention as a novel gene linked to familial cases of acromegaly. In Malta the predicted prevalence of pituitary adenomas is particularly high, 4.67 per 10,000 population, thus suggesting a genetic predisposition.Fourty seven maltese patients with acromegaly were screened for germ-line mutations in the AIP gene. Pituitary tumour tissue, removed during transphenoidal su...