Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: In 2004, the WHO defined atypical pituitary adenomas (APAs) those with Ki-67 >3%, excessive p53 expression and increased mitotic activity. The usefulness of this classification is still controversial.Aim: To compare the clinical and prognostic features in a series of typical and atypical pituitary adenomas.Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 343 consecutive PAs. APAs represented 18.7% of the cases. ...

Aim: To evaluate calcium and bone metabolism in a monocentric series of acromegaly patients (pts), treated with pegvisomant (PEG) alone or in association to long acting somatostatine analogs.Patients and methods: All pts with at least 24 consecutive months PEG treatment (alone or in combination with SSA) were enrolled. All pts had been tested at least twice/year for biochemical acromegaly-disease evaluation and annually for calcium metabolism and for bon...

The IGF1 response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) showed some individual variability and the responsible factors for this behavior remain unknown. Some studies have emphasized the possible role of isoforms of the GH receptor (GHR), showing conflicting results.Therefore, we investigated the possible influence of the isoforms of the GHR to the diagnosis of GHD and in determining adult hormone replacement therapy responsiveness.<p class="abst...

Anabolic therapies represent a major advance in the management of severe osteoporosis. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and human recombinant PTH peptide 1–34 (Teriparatide) demonstrated an increase in bone mineral density and a significant reduction in vertebral fractures in patients with osteoporosis when given for 18–24 months. The intermittent administration of PTH or teriparatide stimulates osteoblastic function, improves bone architecture and has an additional analges...

Introduction: The main goal in the treatment of acromegaly is achieving biochemical and tumor mass control. Therapeutic options include surgery, medical treatment and, in selected cases, radiotherapy. A GH receptor (GHR) variant that differs for the genomic retention or exclusion (d3GHR) of exon 3 is present in about 50% of general population and its presence is related to a greater sensitivity to GH.Materials and methods: We describe a series of 118 pat...

Introduction: A significant number of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas show an aggressive behavior, therefore, when uncontrolled acromegaly persists, a pharmaceutical combination may improve biochemical control, with reduction of disease morbidity and mortality. We aimed to describe the clinical features of four patients successfully treated with a pharmacological combination of pasireotide LAR, pegvisomant and cabergoline.Case reports: Acromegaly was dia...

Introduction: Pasireotide Lar is a new generation long-acting somatostatin multireceptor ligand, approved for the treatment of first line somatostatin analogue resistant patients. We aimed to review Pasireotide Lar efficacy data, in our series of patients affected by aggressive acromegaly.Patients: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on patients with aggressive acromegaly, resistant to first-line somatostatin analogues (SSA) and on treatment...

Introduction: Available literature on series of patients affected by ectopic Cushing’s syndrome (ECS) deriving from neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) is relatively scarce. This is the first Italian multicentre study regarding clinicopathologic features, modalities of treatment, and survival of patients with NETs and ECS.Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of data from patients with ECS from NETs collected in 14 centres between 1986 and 2014, ob...