Endocrine Abstracts

Background: In a previous study, we retrospectively analysed a group of patients with high insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1) but normal growth hormone (GH) suppression, identifying among them a subgroup of “micromegalic” patients presenting with clinical features of acromegaly and high rate of comorbidities. We therefore expanded our cohort of patients, extended the follow-up time and collected preliminary data on treatment response aiming to better characterize this co...

Introduction: The diagnosis of acromegaly is confirmed in the presence of high IGF-1 levels and inadequate suppression of growth hormone (GH) after glucose load. According to guidelines, a GH nadir (GHn)>0.4 ng/ml is considered diagnostic with ultrasensitive assays. However, some acromegalic patients with lower GHn, also called ‘micromegalic’, are reported, but a systematic collection of their clinical features is unavailable.Aim of the s...

Background: Acromegaly is a chronic disease which causes multiple impairments that negatively affect daily life. Telemedicine is proving to be useful in diagnosing and treating these disabling aspects, including psycho-physical comorbidities, which are difficult to investigate during conventional visits.Aim of the study: To improve the management of acromegaly, both in cured and active disease, through the use of telemedicine technologies in addition to ...

Background: Adrenal involvement in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) has been reported, its prevalence varying from 9 to 73%. The aim of this study was to characterize the adrenal phenotype and the prevalence and clinical significance of cortisol hypersecretion in a cohort of MEN1 patients.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 36 adult patients with germline menin mutation (20 females; mean age 50±17.4 years) in regular follow-up at ou...

Background: Pituitary tumors are mostly sporadic, but in less than 5% of cases they can be associated to genetic syndromes, so harbouring germline mutations. Familial pituitary tumors are often more aggressive, so it’s important to detect them, for both a better early diagnosis and genetic counselling. Before the development of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Sanger sequencing was the most widely used method of DNA sequencing. Therefore, DNA samples were analysed follo...

Background: Psychopathological distress is a significant burden in acromegaly, mostly in terms of depression and anxiety. Patients are also reported to experience an impairment in cognitive performance, yet literature is highly heterogeneous.M&M: We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting 44 acromegalic patients (59% females, 29.5% with active disease, 70.5% controlled/in remission) referring to our tertiary center between 2011 and 2023 and 40 h...

Background: In the last few decades, the association between pituitary disorders and cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the importance of gender as a non-modifiable risk of factor is increasingly emerging.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 112 patients diagnosed with nonfunctioning pituitary tumor (NFPT) attending the outpatient clinic at our tertiary center. In this study we report only preliminary data of the retrospec...

The aim of this study was to evaluate in a long follow-up time patients with acromegaly successfully treated by transphenoidal surgery (TNS) in order to establish the recurrence rate and the need of subsequent follow up.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 283 acromegalic patients (168 females, mean age: 44.2 ±12.9 years) who underwent TNS for a GH secreting pituitary adenoma between 1980 and 2020, on regular follow-up at two Pituitary Units...

Background: COVID-19 represents a global health emergency and infected patients with chronic diseases often present a severe impairment. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is supposed to be associated with an increased risk of infections which could trigger adrenal crisis. Our primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 symptoms and complications in AI patients.Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study, in 279 patients with...

The bone strain index (BSI) is a marker of bone deformation based on a finite element analysis inferred from dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, that has been proposed as a predictor of fractures in osteoporosis. BSI value represents the average equivalent strain in a skeletal site, assuming that a higher strain level (higher BSI) indicates a lower bone’s resistance to loads with consequent higher risk of fractures. BSI index is usually calculated for specific loading ...