[Croatian Society of Endocrinology guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly]. / Smjernice Hrvatskoga endokrinoloskog drustva za dijagnostiku i lijecenje akromegalije.

The working group of the Croatian Society of Endocrinology met in September 2011 to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in patients with acromegaly. The group comprised 9 pituitary specialists including endocrinologists, neurosurgeons, and medical biochemistry specialist. After a critical analysis of published scientific papers the group has developed guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly.

Reversible "brain atrophy" in patients with Cushing's disease.

During the past 25 years, we came across 60 patients with corticotroph pituitary adenomas and Cushing's disease. Neuroradiological examination showed prominent volume loss of the brain parenchyma, unexpected for the patient's age. This "brain atrophy" appeared to regress after surgical removal of pituitary adenoma and normalization of cortisol level. Observed difference between degree of "brain atrophy" in the Cushing's disease group and in the control group was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The degree of "brain atrophy" correlated well with the duration of Cushing's disease. Partial reversibility of "brain atrophy" was noticed during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year after surgery and normalization of cortisol level. Increased cortisol level is one of the causative factors in pathogenesis of "brain atrophy". Loss of brain volume is at least partially reversible after normalization of cortisol levels.

A single-centre experience with octreotide in the treatment of different hypersecretory syndromes in patients with functional gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The aim of this research was to assess the clinical and biochemical efficacy of the octreotide in the treatment of patients with various functional gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). The study included 14 patients treated with octreotide for 6 months. They were diagnosed with VIPoma, glucagonoma, gastrinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma (solitary and as a part of MEN-II syndrome), pancreatic carcinoids (solitary and as a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 syndrome-MEN-1 syndrome) and midgut carcinoids. The patients presented with Verner-Morrison, glucagonoma, Zollinger Ellison and carcinoid syndrome respectively. All had a metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and a positive octreoscan finding. Initially elevated chromogranin A (CgA) levels were detected in 11 (78.6%) and elevated 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in 8 (57.1%) patients. Symptomatic efficacy assessments were made by diarrhea reductions during treatment course, and laboratory efficacy was assessed through changes in 5-HIAA and CgA levels. Assessments were made initially and following 6 months of therapy. Median urinary 5-HIAA and the number of stools decreased significantly (p = 0.016 and p = 0.009 respectively, p < 0.05) while CgA levels had the decreasing tendency but not statistically significant (p = 0.14). There was a positive correlation between the 5-HIAA reduction and the decrease in stool number at baseline and during treatment course (p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between 5-HIAA and CgA levels and also there was no correlation between CgA reduction and symptomatic improvement. The results prove octreotide to be effective in reducing symptoms and biochemical markers associated with hypersecretory syndromes of GEP-NETs.

The role of oral glucose intolerance test in reducing pregnancy complications.

The influence of glucose monitoring during pregnancy on newborn body weight, and complications during pregnancy and labor was assessed. We performed a retrospective analysis of macrosomal children, fetal growth, caesarean sections, malformations, still-births and the number of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) carried out in a five-year period. The proportion of women participating in OGTT tests increased from 20% to 40% (p<0.05) between 2000 and 2004. Gestation diabetes mellitus (GDM) proportions among pregnant women seen at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Slavonski Brod General Hospital, Croatia increased from 1% to 6.7% (p < 0. 05) during the observed period. Proportion of births identified as macrosomal decreased from 13.3% to 12.2% (p<0.05). Additionally, infant mortality and still-births along with other fetal and maternal complications declined during the same period. These results suggest that regular measurements of glucose tolerance during pregnancy may prevent preterm birth, decrease the proportion of macrosomal newborns, lower mortality and decrease fetal and maternal complication incidence during pregnancy and delivery.

Effects of raloxifene on changes in bone density.

Raloxifene hydrochloride therapy effectiveness in bone mineral density (BMD) changes compared to calcium and vitamin D3 therapy over a 2-year period. Case-control study: a group of 254 women was prescribed raloxifene (raloxifene hydrochloride) together with calcium and vitamin D3 while other group of 254 women used calcium and vitamin D3 therapy. BMD was measured at the hip, spine and forearm at the beginning and at the end of the 2-year period. Treatment with raloxifene resulted in a 3.7% increase in BMD at the spine in 98% of examinees. A 1.2% BMD increase was shown in 75% of examinees at the hip. A 1.2% decrease in BMD at forearm shown in 93% of examinees using raloxifene. The calcium and vitamin D3 therapy led to an increase in BMD in 58% examinees at the spine, in 56% at the hip and in 38% at the forearm, which was significantly lower than in women using raloxifene. Among women using calcium and vitamin D alone an average BMD decrease of 1.2% was registered on 42% of examinees at the spine, 2.6% decrease on 46% of examinees at the hip and 4.2% decrease on 35% of examinees at the forearm. Treatment with raloxifene resulted in a significant increase in BMD at the spine with odds ratio (OR 5.85, p <0.05) compared with calcium and vitamin D3 alone. There was no statistically proven increase in BMD at either the hip (OR 0.015) or forearm (OR 0.122).

Incidence of pituitary tumors in the human population of Croatia.

Pituitary tumors are rare tumors (less then 10%) of the central nervous system (CNS), which malignicity depends on their localization, meanwhile, their biological nature is benign. The diameter they have is mostly less then 10 mm (microadenomas), but sometimes could be 10 mm (macroadenomas) to 5 cm and more and then are usually nonfunctional (about 20% of all pituitary tumors). Clinical presence depends on their localisation and hormonal activity. In the Center for Clinical Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary Diseases, in the last working 10 years, there were treated and examined 504 patients from Croatia, all with pituitary tumors: 182 patients with prolactinomas, 137 with acromegaly, 70 with Morbus Cushing (Mb. Cushing), and 115 patients with nonfunctional pituitary tumors. The patient's classification is based on regional (Mediterranean and continental region, 20 counties) and the state level. In our analysis we haven't found difference in incidence of tumors between Mediterranean and continental region.