Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Acromegaly is caused by chronic hypersecretion of GH and IGF-1. Chronically elevated GH and IGF-1 levels lead to a complex spectrum of signs.

Objectives: To describe the clinical, hormonal and radiological profile of acromegaly at the time of diagnosis.

Materials and methods: Retrospective study including 67 patients hospitalized in the Endocrinology Department of the EPH Bologhine

Results: There were 40 men and 27 women (Sex ratio M/F:1,48), the average age at the time of diagnosis of the patients was 43years, a partial or total anteropituitary insufficiency was found in 38,8% of the cases. This was global in 10.4% and partial in 28.35%. 7.4% of the patients had intestinal polyps, 2 of the 67 acromegalic patients had a thyroid cancer neoplasia and a colonic adenocarcinoma. Metabolically, 15% of the patients had diabetes mellitus Radiologically, a macroadenoma was found in 83.5% of cases, a microadenoma in 13.43% of cases. Hyperplasia was noted in one patient. In one case the pituitary gland was normal and the etiological investigation in search of an ectopic secretion was negative.

Conclusion: Our results agree with the data described in the literature, although acromegaly is more frequent in women. An early diagnosis is necessary in these acromegalic patients.