Endocrine Abstracts

ATL1103 is a second generation antisense oligomer directed at the GH receptor. It is a 20mer with a phosphorothioate backbone and 2′-O-methoxyethyl modifications of the five nucleotides at either end intended to increase its plasma half-life and affinity for the target RNA to allow post-hybridization RNaseH degradation. We report a phase 2 randomised, open-label, parallel group study of subcutaneously administered ATL1103 in patients with active acromegaly. Appr...

Background: Patients with Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) suffer from a variety of neuropsychiatric and cognitive problems. Following remission, some, but not all of these symptoms resolve. Recent cross-sectional studies in patients with CS show persistent structural and functional brain abnormalities. However, longitudinal studies using magnetic resonance imaging, and a detailed neurocognitive assessment, performed before and after treatment, are not available.<p class="abs...

Background: Muscle weakness persists in patients with acromegaly (ACRO) even long-term after disease control. Mechanisms determining this sustained impairment are not known. We hypothesized that alteration of muscle architecture, due to intramuscular fatty infiltration, is associated with muscle dysfunction in these patients.Patients and Methods: Thirty-seven acromegalic patients [21 females and 16 males, mean (± s.d.)age, 53 ± 9 years...

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is associated with increased mortality and morbidities. Hypercortisolism is also present in chronic mood disorders (CMD) and stress, where telomere length (TL) has been found to be shorter than in matched controls. Since hypercortisolism is present in CS and CMD, we hypothesized that telomere shortening could also be present in CS. The aim of this study was to investigate TL in CS patients compared to matched controls.<p class="ab...

Background and aims: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) encompasses a spectrum of phenotypes. Known genetic factors account for variable percentage of cases depending on the cohort screened. We analysed the results of genetic screening in a large cohort of patients with CH with the following aims: i) to clarify the genetic aetiology of CH ii) identify any phenotype genotype correlations and iii) propose a screening strategy.Patients and methods: Over 15 yea...

The European Registry on Cushing’s syndrome (ERCUSYN) is designed to collect prospective and follow-up data at EU level on patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Baseline data on 481 CS patients (390 females, 91 males; mean age (±S.D.): 44±14 years) collected from 36 centres in 23 countries. This cohort included new patients since 2008 and retrospective cases since 2005. Patients were divided into four major etiologic groups: pituitary-depend...

Introduction: Somavert is a GH receptor blocker, which inhibits hepatic production of IGF1. While it has been approved for the treatment of acromegaly since 2003 there are few data regarding its effects in everyday clinical practice.Methods/design: ACROSTUDY is an open-label, international, prospective, non-interventional, post-marketing surveillance study monitoring the long-term safety and efficacy of Somavert.Results: As of Dece...

Introduction: Cushing’s disease (CD) is characterized by various symptoms, amongst which fatigue, muscle weakness and depression. The chronic state of hypercortisolism severely impairs quality of life (QoL). In addition, the physiological cortisol diurnal rhythm (CDR) is disturbed in CD. Transsphenoidal surgery is the primary treatment for CD, but long-term remission rates are disappointing. We performed a prospective trial in which stepwise medical treatment was applied ...

Introduction: Patients with Cushing’s syndrome might present a variety of brain alterations. There is however little evidence from MRI studies demonstrating atrophy of either frontal or medial temporal brain regions.Aims: To study cortical alterations (decreased cortical thickness) on MRI in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS), as compared to controls (C), and long-standing major depressive disorder (MDD).Material and m...

Seventeen newly-diagnosed acromegalic patients (8 female, 9 male: mean age 55 year, range 26–73 year) were recruited to the A.C.R.O.P.A.T. trial. Patients were assessed prior to, and following, 6 months of treatment with Somatuline Autogel® (SA).Growth hormone (GH) & insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1): Following treatment, GH and IGF1 levels fell significantly in all but one subject: median GH change −17.23 mU/l (interquar...