Endocrine Abstracts

Adult GHD patients may have reduced BMD with high risk of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures which is thought to be reverted by long-term rhGH replacement therapy. In this study we aimed at identifying the determinant factors of vertebral fractures, as assessed by a radiological morphometric approach, in a cohort of adult patients with untreated GHD. Forty-two patients (27 males, 15 females; median age: 48 years, range: 30–67) with untreated severe (as defined by a pea...

Background: Primary empty sella (ES) can be asymptomatic or associated with endocrine and neurological alterations, such as visual defects. Studies in a large number of patients is still lacking.Objective: To study visual deficit in ES and its relationship with hormonal status.Material and Methods: We recorded visual evoked potentials (VEP) by white/black, red/black, blue/black patterns. Isoluminance between red and blue checks all...

IntroductionPrimary autoimmune hypophysitis (PAHs) is a rare inflammatory disease of the pituitary gland. Although largely investigated, the pathogenesis of PAH is not completely clarified. We aimed to investigate the immune response in PAHs.Material and methodsSerum anti-pituitary and anti-hypothalamus antibodies (respectively APAs and AHAs) were investigated though an indirect immunofluorescence on monkey h...

Introduction: Acromegaly patients (ACRO) show increased morbidity that affects health and quality of life (QoL). Elderly ACRO are going to increase in the next few years, but evidence regarding their management is lacking.Aim: To evaluate physical, functional and cognitive performances of elderly ACRO and the relationship with QoL.Methods: Multicenter case-control study conducted on 42 older ACRO (≥ 65 years) compared to an a...

Introduction: Somatotropinomas are benign pituitary tumors with heterogeneous biological and clinical behavior. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an environment generated by the interaction between tumor cells and the host immune system. It affects both the behavior of the tumor and the outcome of the therapy. The GNAS gene encodes the alpha subunit of G proteins associated with hormone receptors such as TSH, PTH, GHRH, FSH/lH, ACTH. Mutation of this gene has been associated...

Somatotropinomas are benign pituitary tumors, with a heterogenous biological and clinical behavior. Tumor microenvironment reflects the interaction between tumor cells and the host immune system and may regulate tumor behavior and therapy outcome. We develop a scoring system that includes clinical, pathological and immune markers to early identify fg-SRLs resistant acromegaly pts. 43 acromegaly pts were included according the following criteria (1) first line treatment with su...

Acromegaly is associated with skeletal fragility and an increased prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF). In recent years several authors have tried to investigate the markers that can predict the risk of bone fragility in this endocrine disorder. Two different isoforms of the GH receptor (GHR) have been described so far, which differ in the presence or absence of a transcript of exon 3 of the GHR gene. Both isoforms produce a functional receptor, but the exon 3-deleted isofor...

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 1%–2% of thyroid cancers and has a variable clinical course. MTCs present with locoregional metastasis in 50% of patients and distant metastasis in 10% to 15% at the time of initial diagnosis. The lungs, liver, and bone are common metastatic sites, and distant metastasis is known to be a poor prognostic factor for long-term oncologic outcomes. We present the long course case, under somatostatin analogues (SSA) therapy, of a 7...

Introduction: Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) is associated with an increased frequency and severity of infections. Mild hypercortisolism (MI) from adrenal incidentalomas has been associated with various complications, but data on infections are scarce. Retrospective data on patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) showed an increased mortality attributed to infections. The approach used was very heterogeneous for all these studies. The aim of the study is to prospectively evalua...

Introduction: Bilateral sampling of the inferior petrosal sinuses (IPSS) is considerate actually the best diagnostic test for Cushing.Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed our series of patients undergone IPSS for Cushing disease and we compared the difference between central and peripheral ACTH gradient in basal condition and after CRH stimulation in cases of localization of the tip of the catheters inside the inferior petrosal sinus or at t...