Endocrine Abstracts

The contribution of conventional hormone replacement to the clinical features attributed to adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is poorly defined. We measured baseline bone mineral density (BMD/DXA) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in patients with isolated GHD (IGHD, 16 patients, 14 female, 4 childhood onset, mean age 39, range 19- 63 years) and patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPD, 135 patients, 94 female, 14 childhood onset, mean age 44, range 19...

The contribution to adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) of hormone replacement and other aspects of hypopituitarism are poorly defined. We compared baseline characteristics and response to GH treatment of patients with isolated GHD (IGHD, 16 patients) to patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPD, 135 patients). At baseline, MPD patients showed significantly greater waist-hip ratios (0.87 plus/minus 0.007 vs. 0.82 plus/minus 0.02, mean plus/minus SD; P < 0...

Patients with acromegaly treated with medical therapy intermittently discontinue therapy to allow assessment of underlying disease activity. This is particularly so in patients treated with pituitary irradiation. Typical 'washout' times include 5 weeks for bromocriptine and 2 weeks for short-acting sc octreotide; longer periods are required for cabergoline and slow-release somatostatin analogues. Pegvisomant is a novel medical therapy for acromegaly that functions as a GH rece...