Effect of chronic cabergoline treatment and testosterone replacement on metabolism in male patients with prolactinomas.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism are reportedly associated with an impaired metabolic profile. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of testosterone replacement and cabergoline (CAB) treatment on the metabolic profile in male hyperprolactinemic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two men with prolactinomas, including 22 with total testosterone (TT) <8 nmol/l (HG, 69%) and 10 with TT >8 nmol/l (non-HG, 31%), were entered in the study. In all patients, metabolic parameters were assessed at diagnosis and after 12- and 24-month treatment. RESULTS: Compared to non-HG patients, at baseline the HG patients had higher waist circumference (WC). TT significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI). Twelve-month CAB induced PRL normalization in 84%. HG prevalence significantly decreased (28%) and non-HG prevalence significantly increased (72%). Anthropometric and lipid parameters, fasting insulin (FI), insulin sensitivity index (ISI0), homeostatic model assessment of insulin secretion (HOMA-ß) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) significantly improved compared to baseline. TT was the best predictor for FI. Percent change (Δ) of TT significantly correlated with ΔCholesterol, ΔWeight and ΔBMI. Compared to non-HG patients, the HG patients had a higher weight, BMI, WC and HOMA-ß. In HG, testosterone replacement was started. After 24 months, PRL normalized in 97%. HG prevalence significantly decreased (6%) and non-HG prevalence significantly increased (94%). Anthropometric and lipid parameters, FI, ISI0, HOMA-ß and HOMA-IR significantly improved compared to baseline, with FI, ISI0, HOMA-ß and HOMA-IR further ameliorating compared to the 12-month evaluation. Compared to non-HG patients, the HG patients still had a higher weight, BMI and WC. CONCLUSIONS: In hyperprolactinemic hypogonal men, proper testosterone replacement induces a significant improvement in the metabolic profile, even though the amelioration in the lipid profile might reflect the direct action of CAB.

An easy schedule for postsurgical radioiodine administration in newly diagnosed differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the simplest approach to preparing patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) for (131) I-administration ((131) I-A), minimizing the impact of hypothyroidism. DESIGN: Panel study. PATIENTS: Ninety patients with DTC were enrolled in the study. Sixty (Group A) underwent total thyroidectomy (TT); L-T4 was not administered in preparation for (131) I-A planned for 3 weeks later. Thirty patients (Group B) with previous TT and (131) I-A stopped L-T4 in preparation for clinical evaluation, including whole-body scanning (WBS)/radioiodine therapy during thyrotrophin (TSH) stimulation planned for 3 weeks (or more) later. MEASUREMENTS: Thyrotrophin was measured the day before TT for group A, during L-T4 for group B (baseline-time 1) and then every week until it reached ≥ 30 mIU/l (time 2). Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by Billewicz index. RESULTS: At week 3, 100% of patients in group A and 56.6% of group B exceeded TSH > 30 mIU/l. In group B, the cut-off was achieved in four patients at the fourth week (TSH 38.6 ± 8.7 mIU/l), in 3 at the fifth (53.2 ± 3) and in 6 at the sixth (42.3 ± 6.1). From time 1 to time 2, total QoL scores were less affected in group A (percentage decrease: 105%) than in group B (218%). At time 2, the total score was >+19 in group A in 46 patients and in 30 in group B. In group A, TSH levels in the higher tertile of QoL (61 ± 6 mIU/l) were not different from those in the lower tertile (62.3 ± 11.1)(P > 0.1); similar results were seen in group B (69.3 ± 13.3 vs 62.9 ± 13.1)(P > 0.1). There was a positive correlation between the time to obtain TSH ≥ 30 mIU/l and total QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life scores were not affected by thyrotrophin was measured the day before TT levels as absolute values. A longer time to obtain TSH ≥ 30 mIU/l was positively correlated with worse scores of QoL. We suggest 3 weeks without therapy can be used as an easy schedule in patients who undergo TT for DTC.

Effect of cabergoline on metabolism in prolactinomas.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperprolactinemia has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and glucose intolerance and is reportedly associated with an impaired metabolic profile. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of 12- and 60-month treatment with cabergoline (CAB) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with prolactinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 61 patients with prolactinomas (13 men, 48 women, 41 with microadenoma, 20 with macroadenoma), aged 34.4 ± 10.3 years, entered the study. In all patients, prolactin (PRL) and metabolic parameters were assessed at diagnosis and after 12 and 60 months of continuous CAB treatment. MetS was diagnosed according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, CAB induced a significant decrease in PRL with complete normalization in 93% of patients after the 60-month treatment. At baseline, MetS prevalence was significantly higher in patients with PRL above (34.5%) than in those with PRL lower (12.5%) than the median (129 µg/l, p = 0.03). MetS prevalence significantly decreased after 12 (11.5%, p = 0.039) and 60 (5.0%, p = 0.001) months compared to baseline (28.0%). At both evaluations the lipid profile significantly improved compared to baseline. Fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance significantly decreased after 1 year of CAB (p = 0.012 and p = 0.002, respectively) and further improved after 60 months (p = 0.000). The visceral adiposity index significantly decreased after the 60-month treatment (p = 0.000) compared to baseline. At the 5-year evaluation CAB dose was the best predictor of percent decrease in fasting insulin (t = 2.35, p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: CAB significantly reduces MetS prevalence and improves the adipose tissue dysfunction index. The improvement in PRL, insulin sensitivity and other metabolic parameters might reflect the direct effect of CAB.

Teriparatide vs. alendronate as a treatment for osteoporosis: changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover, BMD and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: We studied the use of teriparatide in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis. MATERIAL/METHODS: Two groups (A and B) of patients affected by severe osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5 at bone mineral density were analyzed and 2 vertebral fractures on radiograph). Group A was treated for 18 months with 20 µg/day of teriparatide. Group B was treated with bisphosphonates 70 mg/week. Every woman assumed 1 g of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D3 daily. We evaluated the effects of therapy after 18 months (T18) from the beginning with bone turnover markers (alkaline phosphatase, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide, and N-telopeptide cross-links) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Group A, at T18 procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide levels, increased 127%; bone alkaline phosphatase levels increased to 65%; N-telopeptide cross-links levels increased to 110%. Group B, at T18 procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide levels, decreased to 74%; bone alkaline phosphatase levels decreased to 41%; N-telopeptide cross-links levels decreased to 72%. After 18 months, lumbar bone mineral density increased to 12.4% and femoral bone mineral density increased to 5.2% in group A. Group B lumbar bone mineral density increased to 3.85% and femoral bone mineral density increased to 1.99%. Only a new vertebral fracture occurred in group A (2.4%), whereas 6 fractures occurred in group B (15.7%). The quality of life questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO) revealed a significant improvement in daily living, performed domestic jobs, and locomotor function in groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: The use of rhPTH in patients with severe osteoporosis offers more protection against fractures and improves the QoL more than bisphosphonates.

Stricter criteria increase the validity of a quick intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay in primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: A "quick" intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) (QPTH) assay evaluates parathyroid hypersecretion during parathyroidectomy. We investigated the likelihood of increasing surgical success rates by introducing stricter parameters in intraoperative PTH monitoring. MATERIAL/METHODS: One hundred one patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism were studied. Intraoperative plasma intact PTH (iPTH) levels were measured with a modified 2-site antibody immunochemiluminometric assay. iPTH values were determined before the manipulation of parathyroid tissue (t-10') and then 3 (t+3') and 10 (t+10') minutes after resection of the suspected pathologic parathyroid gland(s). RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) baseline iPTH level was 259.6 (536) ng/L at t-10' and 64.1 (139.5) ng/L at t+10'. At t+3' and t+10', the median percentage decrease of iPTH from baseline was 56.1% and 77.3%, respectively. In 7 patients, the iPTH level decreased very slowly, and in patients with a double adenoma, an initial increase in the iPTH level occurred because of considerable manipulation during surgery. Despite a decrease of about 50% in iPTH level, persistent hyperparathyroidism was identified after a few months in 2 patients with a multiglandular pathologic condition in which a relatively larger parathyroid "masked" the hyperactivity of other parathyroid glands. CONCLUSIONS: A QPTH is useful during parathyroidectomy. A decrease in the iPTH level of > or =70% from baseline indicates a successful operation and reduces the likelihood of false-positive results. The evaluation of more than 1 PTH level is required if multiglandular disease is suspected or excessive intraoperative manipulation occurs.