Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 EP743 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.EP743

1Larrey University Hospital, Toulouse, France; 2La Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France; 3Bicêtre University Hospital, Kremlin Bicêtre, France; 4Neuro-Cardiologic Hospital, Bron, France; 5Haut-Levêque Hospital, Pessac, France; 6Charles Nicolle University Hospital, Rouen, France; 7Robert Debré University Hospital, Reims, France; 8Bretonneau University Hospital, Tours, France; 9Ipsen Pharma SAS, Boulogne Billancourt, France.


Introduction: Acromegaly is characterised by chronic, excessive secretion of GH and increased IGF1 levels caused by benign pituitary adenoma. This study aimed at describing the symptoms and comorbidities of acromegaly at diagnosis, in a large cohort of patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2014.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study conducted in France between September 2013 and June 2014. Adult patients with acromegaly diagnosed for <5 years were included. Data were collected retrospectively from patient medical files and confirmed by patients’ questionnaires.

Results: 472 patients were analysed. Age (mean±S.D.) was 51.9 (±14.3) years and 57.2% were female. BMI was 27.7 (±5.3) kg/m2. Time since diagnosis was 30.6 (±17.8) months. Acromegaly was most frequently diagnosed by endocrinologists (29.5%) and general practitioners (16.1%). GH- and GH/PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas were reported in 78.8% and 18.2% of patients, respectively. Most patients had a macroadenoma (80.3%). At diagnosis, GH level was 18.7 (±30.1) μg/l and IGF1 level was 295 (±160) %ULN. Among patients with GH/PRL adenoma, serum prolactin level was 183 (±650) μg/l.

At diagnosis, patients presented morphological signs (coarse facial feature, enlargement of hands and feet) (96.2%), skin manifestations (85.8%), respiratory problems (83.5%), asthenia (79.2%), osteoarthropathies (76.1%), endocrine complications (73.3%), tumour mass effects (69.1%), weight gain (64.6%), cardiovascular diseases (62.9%), ear-nose-throat disorders (62.1%), carpal/cubital tunnel syndromes (58.1%), gastrointestinal symptoms (57.8%), sexual dysfunctions (47.7%), metabolic abnormalities (42.8%) ((diabetes mellitus (27.5%), impaired glucose tolerance (9.5%)), psychologic changes (28.8%), and malignant diseases (11.9%). Overall, mean time between symptom or comorbidity onset and diagnosis of acromegaly was 5.1 (±4.3) years.

Conclusion: This study provides insights on symptoms and comorbidities of acromegalic patients recently diagnosed. Results confirm the broad range of comorbidities at diagnosis and the delay for the diagnosis of acromegaly, and therefore emphasise the efforts needed in improving the early recognition of the disease.

Disclosure: Grant from Ipsen Pharma SAS.

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