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Endocrine Abstracts (2019) 65 P271 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.65.P271

SFEBES2019 POSTER PRESENTATIONS Neuroendocrinology (65 abstracts)

Increased clot density in patients with acromegaly: the role of the adverse metabolic profile and disease activity to the increased thrombotic potential

Nikolaos Kyriakakis 1, , Nikoletta Pechlivani 2 , Julie Lynch 1 , Natalie Oxley 2 , Fladia Phoenix 2 , Khyatisha Seejore 1 , Steve Orme 1 , Ramzi Ajjan 2 & Robert Murray 1,


1Department of Endocrinology, Leeds Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK; 2Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK


Introduction: Patients with acromegaly have increased mortality, primarily related to cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether GH/IGF-1 excess increases vascular disease by adversely affecting fibrin network characteristics.

Methods: In this case–control study, 40 patients with acromegaly (21 males, age 53±13 years, 45% disease remission) and 40 age and gender-matched controls were recruited. Clot structure parameters were analysed using a validated turbidimetric assay and fibrin networks were visualised by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Parameters of metabolic profile, body composition, plasma fibrinogen and PAI-1 were also assessed.

Results: Patients had higher BMI (30±5.5 vs. 26.7±4.1 kg/m2, P=0.003), waist/hip ratio (0.91±0.08 vs. 0.87±0.08, P=0.045), total fat mass (29.8±10 vs. 23.4±10 kg, P=0.003), fibrinogen [3.1 (2.6–4.1) vs. 2.6 (2.5–2.7) mg/ml, P<0.001] and clot maximum absorbance (0.38±0.13 vs. 0.32±0.08 arbitrary units, P=0.02). There was a trend towards greater clot lysis area (measure of clot density, fibre thickness and lysis potential) in patients [634 (452–905) vs. 501 (429–784) arbitrary units, P=0.08], however there was no difference in lysis time or PAI-1 levels. LSCM showed increased fibrin network density in patients compared with controls, with increased number of fibrin fibres. Changes in clot density and fibrinogen were more pronounced amongst patients with active acromegaly and were eliminated when comparing patients in remission with controls. BMI, fat mass and skinfold thickness were associated with higher clot density and longer lysis time. Disease remission was associated with reduction in lysis area.

Conclusions: Patients with acromegaly have more compact clots secondary to higher fibrinogen levels, thus conferring increased thrombosis risk. The adverse metabolic profile and disease activity contribute to these abnormal clot structure properties. Prothormbotic fibrin networks may represent one mechanism for enhanced vascular risk in individuals with acromegaly, particularly during active disease.

Volume 65

Society for Endocrinology BES 2019

Brighton, United Kingdom
11 Nov 2019 - 13 Nov 2019

Society for Endocrinology 

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