Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin and ghrelin are correlated to acute and chronic nutritional status. Elevated BMI and fat mass as well as food intake increase leptin levels whereas ghrelin levels are reduced. Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone (GH) secretion. The influence of GH on ghrelin is unclear. Since GH reduces fat mass and is dependent on nutritional status we performed this prospective cross sectional study in order to investigate any interaction between GH, ghrelin and leptin levels in active ...

Background: We recently have shown a close association of high concentrations of soluble alpha klotho (sαKL) to disease activity in acromegaly. Small pilot studies suggested that sαKL concentrations might be reduced in GH deficiency (GHD) and increase after recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of sαKL as a biomarker in GHD.Methods: We evaluated sαKL in comparison to the classical biomarkers GH, IG...

GH suppression during OGTT is the gold-standard test in diagnosis and monitoring of acromegaly. However, discrepancies between GH nadir and IGF-I have been described and have triggered search for factors modifying the extent of GH suppression. Cut-offs at 1.0 or 0.4 ng/ml are currently recommended with modern, highly sensitive GH assays. To establish assay specific GH nadir cutoffs for the 22kD GH specific IDS-iSYS assay, we examined 381 subjects (319 females, 62 males) with n...

Introduction: A monthly, long-acting formulation of pasireotide normalized or reduced mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) in most patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) in a multicentre, double-blind, Phase III study. The effects of long-acting pasireotide on signs and symptoms of CD are reported here.Methods: Patients with persistent/recurrent (n=123) or de novo (non-surgical candidates; n=27) CD and mUFC≥1.5–5xULN...

Objective: Diagnosis of acromegaly is often delayed up to 10 years after disease onset despite obvious visual changes, bone and soft-tissue deformities. We hypothesized that a reduced sense of body perception in acromegaly, possibly mediated by psychiatric or cognitive alterations, might contribute to the delayed initiation of a diagnostic work-up.Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: We investigated perceived body image ...

Background: Recent studies reported high soluble α-klotho concentrations (α-klotho) in active acromegaly, with normalization after successful therapy. We showed that α-klotho correlates to GH and even better to IGF-I. So far, most studies employed an immunoassay from Immuno-Biological Laboratories (IBL) for measurement of α-klotho, but other assays are available. Agreement between assays remains questionable since α-klotho exists in several isoforms: K...

Background: Cushing’s syndrome is a disease that presents with clear symptoms and causes considerable harm to the body if left untreated, yet often remains undiagnosed for prolonged periods of time. Face-classification software might recognize typical changes of the face and thus aid in diagnosing the disease early as we have previously shown in the classification of acromegaly.Methods: Using a regular compact digital camera, we took frontal and sid...

Introduction: The large, randomized, phase III study of pasireotide in Cushing’s disease found that pasireotide treatment resulted in rapid and sustained decreases in UFC levels and in significant improvements in signs and symptoms over 12 months of treatment. A 12-month extension of this trial has recently completed, and the results are reported here.Methods: Patients with persistent/recurrent or de novo (if not surgical candidates) Cushing&...

Acromegaly is accompanied by increased morbidity and mortality. The delay between onset of first symptoms and diagnosis of the disease is 6 to 10 years. Acromegaly causes typical changes of the face. We hypothesized that face classification software might help distinguishing between subjects with and without acromegaly on regular photographs and, thus, might help improving early recognition of acromegaly.Methods: We took frontal and side photographs of t...

Background: In acromegaly, few in vivo data exist on changes of the brain parenchyma as a pathology caused by systemically elevated levels of GH and IGF-1. This is in contrast to neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression, cognitive impairment, personality changes and pain syndromes that accompany the condition. We aimed at measuring brain tissue volumes and white matter pathology in acromegaly.Methods: Forty-three patients (age 54±14 years...