Endocrine Abstracts

Gonadotroph pituitary tumors (GnPiT) account for ~40% of pituitary tumors surgically treated and 70-75% of non-functional pituitary tumors. Functional gonadotropin-secreting tumors are rare and clinical manifestations vary according to the age and sex of the patient. They are benign tumors which, due to their silent nature, can grow and invade surrounding structures, making complete resection impossible and leading to recurrence in ~30% of cases.Objectiv...

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a frequent cardiovascular risk factor in acromegaly. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate sex-related differences in OSAS characteristics and indications of non-invasive ventilation.Patients and Methods: Thirty-nine adult patients (16 F, 23 M) from two European centers were studied by home sleep apnea test (HSAT) or polysomnography (PSG). OSA was defined by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5/h and analyzed a...

Radiotherapy (RT) may represent a useful tool in the treatment of GH-secreting tumours in the presence of a post-operative active disease and single dose stereotactic RT/gamma knife is the preferred option in most cases. The effects of RT on the control of hormone secretion are very slow and pharmacological treatment remains necessary for years. Some authors advocate withdrawal of somatostatin analogues (SSA) during RT, although the short-term effects of RT on hormone secretio...

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased risk of kidney stones. Hypercalciuria and urine oxalate excretion are considered risk factors for urolithiasis in PHPT stone-formers. Recently, the anion-exchanger SLC26A6 has been involved in the oxalate metabolism. Slc26a6-null mice showed hyperoxalemia, hyperoxaluria resulting in dramatic calcium oxalate urolithiasis. We tested the hypothesis that urine oxalate excretion in PHPT patients might be modulat...

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare dominantly inherited neoplastic syndrome. Tipically, it affects three major locations: parathyroid, endocrine pancreas or duodenum (GEP) and anterior pituitary. MEN1 is caused by mutations in MEN1 gene and its testing is now used as a complement to clinical diagnosis which may be hindered by the variable penetrance and expression of the defects. Mutation carriers are life-long monitored, while unaffected relatives can avoid ...

Beta-HLH transcription factors are involved in the ontogenesis of neural/neuroendocrine cells, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of neuroendocrine tumours. Neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) is expressed by the developing mouse pituitary. After preliminary data indicating its expression in the normal human pituitary, we have studied its phenotypic expression in normal and adenomatous pituitary tissues.Methods: Fifty-two pituitary adenomas (PA) – 23 clinicall...

The beta-HLH transcription factors NeuroD1 and ASH1 are frequently expressed by pituitary adenomas, both being present in all corticotroph, most clinically non-secreting (CNS) and a subset of GH and/or PRL-secreting adenomas. We wished to investigate the expression of the related beta-HLH factors neurogenins (Ngn) 1, 2 and 3 in the pituitary (n=4) and in a series of pituitary adenomas (n=45). RT-PCR was performed at different amplification cycles (up to 45) in al...

TSH producing pituitary adenomas are a rare cause of thyrotoxicosis. These tumors account for only 1–2% of the pituitary adenomas. Co-secretion occurs in 30% of thyrotropinomas and requires careful investigation and subsequent follow up.A 43-year-old male presented with hand tremor and tachycardia. He was found to have elevated TSH, free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3), but did not get treatment for years. In 2019 he developed atrial fibrillation. TSH wa...

Introduction: Metastatic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) or pituitary carcinomas are rare and challenging conditions. We present a recent and encouraging observation of a temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant clinically non-functioning metastatic PitNET showing a remarkable response to the anti-PDL1 drug Pembrolizumab.Case presentation: A 57-years-old man had transsphenoidal surgery in November 2012 for a large non-functioning intra/suprasellar mass rev...

Context: Acromegaly is associated with several metabolic and cardio-respiratory comorbidities, with a relative increase in the last years of cancer mortality. Although the GH/ IGF-1 axis has long been supposed to play a role on immune modulation, immune function in acromegaly is poorly known.Objective: This observational, prospective, single site, pilot study (NCT05069324) aims to analyse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) subpopulations in acrom...