Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in the Early Postoperative Assessment of Acromegaly.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of surgical outcome in acromegaly is typically recommended at 3 to 6 months following surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations at 6 weeks were equally predictive of surgical outcomes compared with IGF-1 concentrations at 3 to 6 months postoperatively applying newer IGF-1 assays. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly who had surgery between 2013 and 2020 and had postoperative IGF-1 measured by 6 weeks and 3 to 6 months. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, 20 (35%) of the total 57 had normal IGF-1 and became abnormal in 1 at 3 to 6 months, whereas 37 (65%) of 57 had abnormal IGF-1 concentrations at 6 weeks, which normalized in 1 patient by 3 to 6 months. In patients who changed clinical status, IGF-1 at 6 weeks was within ±0.1-fold of normal. Although a difference was seen between median IGF-1 concentrations (286 vs 267 ng/mL, P = .009) at 6 weeks and 3 to 6 months, the mean reduction was small (-19.9 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with 3 to 6 months, use of IGF-1 at 6 weeks was associated with a change in clinical status in 3.5% of patients. Therefore, in most patients, IGF-1 at 6 weeks can be used to assess clinical outcome via newer assays.

Development and assessment of machine learning algorithms for predicting remission after transsphenoidal surgery among patients with acromegaly.

PURPOSE: Preoperative prediction of transsphenoidal surgical (TSS) response is important for determining individual treatment strategies for acromegaly. There is currently no accurate predictive model for TSS response for acromegaly. The current study sought to develop and validate machine learning (ML)-based models for preoperative prediction of TSS response for acromegaly. METHODS: Six hundred sixty-eight patients with acromegaly were enrolled and divided into training (n = 534) and text datasets (n = 134) in this retrospective, data mining and ML study. The forward search algorithm was used to select features, and six ML algorithms were applied to construct TSS response prediction models. The performance of these ML models was validated using receiver operating characteristics analysis. Model calibration, discrimination ability, and clinical usefulness were also assessed. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-nine (52.2%) patients achieved postoperative remission criteria and exhibited good TSS response. A univariate analysis was conducted and eight features, including age, hypertension, ophthalmic disorders, GH, IGF-1, nadir GH, maximal tumor diameter, and Knosp grade, were significantly associated with the TSS response in patients with acromegaly. After feature selection, the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), which was constructed with the eight significant features showed the best favorable discriminatory ability both the training (AUC = 0.8555) and validation (AUC = 0.8178) cohorts. The GBDT model showed good discrimination ability and calibration, with the highest levels of accuracy and specificity, and provided better estimates of TTS responses of patients with acromegaly compared with using only the Knosp grade. Decision curve analysis confirmed that the model was clinically useful. CONCLUSIONS: ML-based models could aid neurosurgeons in the preoperative prediction of TTS response for patients with acromegaly, and could contribute to determining individual treatment strategies.

The effects of pre-operative somatostatin analogue therapy on treatment cost and remission in acromegaly.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of preoperative somatostatin analogue (SSA) treatment on the annual cost of all acromegaly treatment modalities and on remission rates. METHODS: The medical records of 135 patients with acromegaly who were followed at endocrinology clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty for at least 2 years after surgery between 2009 and 2016 were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 50.9 ± 25.7 months. Early remission was defined according to 3rd month values in patients who didn't achieve remission, and 6th month values in patients who achieved remission at the 3rd month after surgery. The early and late remission rates of the entire study population were 40% and 80.7%, respectively. The early remission of the preoperative SSA-treated group (61.5%) was significantly higher than SSA-untreated group (31.2%) (p = 0.002). The early remission of the preoperative SSA-treated patients with macroadenomas (52.2%) was also significantly higher than the SSA-untreated group (23.5%) (p = 0.02). In the subgroup analysis; this difference was much more pronounced in invasive macroadenomas (p = 0.002). There were no differences between the groups in terms of late remission.The median annual cost of all acromegaly treatment modalities in study population was €3788.4; the cost for macroadenomas was significantly higher than for microadenomas (€4125.0 vs. €3226.5, respectively; p = 0.03). Preoperative SSA use in both microadenomas and macroadenomas didn't alter the cost of treatment. The increase in the duration of preoperative medical treatment had no effect on early or late remissions (p = 0.09; p = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative medical treatment had no effect on the costs of acromegaly treatment. There was a benefical effect of pre-operative SSA use on early remission in patients with macroadenomas; however, this effect didn't persist long term.

Medical Treatment with Somatostatin Analogues in Acromegaly: Position Statement.

The Korean Endocrine Society (KES) published clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acromegaly in 2011. Since then, the number of acromegaly cases, publications on studies addressing medical treatment of acromegaly, and demands for improvements in insurance coverage have been dramatically increasing. In 2017, the KES Committee of Health Insurance decided to publish a position statement regarding the use of somatostatin analogues in acromegaly. Accordingly, consensus opinions for the position statement were collected after intensive review of the relevant literature and discussions among experts affiliated with the KES, and the Korean Neuroendocrine Study Group. This position statement includes the characteristics, indications, dose, interval (including extended dose interval in case of lanreotide autogel), switching and preoperative use of somatostatin analogues in medical treatment of acromegaly. The recommended approach is based on the expert opinions in case of insufficient clinical evidence, and where discrepancies among the expert opinions were found, the experts voted to determine the recommended approach.

The real costs of acromegaly: analysis of different therapies.

Acromegaly is a rare, chronic condition caused by growth hormone (GH) overproduction, usually due to a benign tumour of the pituitary gland. During the disease many complications occur, including cardiovascular disease and changes in the musculoskeletal, respiratory, and endocrine systems. Treatment includes surgery, medical therapy, and radiation. In this paper a literature review was conducted for information related to costs of management of acromegaly and its associated comorbidities using PubMed.The majority of total costs represent pharmacological treatment, especially the most common somatostatin analogues (SSA) therapy. The average reported annual cost of SSA therapy is EUR 12,000-40,000. Surgery reduces the cost of care via the possibility of avoiding lifelong pharmacological treatment. Radiotherapy is also suggested to lower the costs of therapy because about 60% of patients eventually will not require further pharmacological treatment; however, it is connected with negative outcomes like hypopituitarism, lower quality of life, and increased mortality. Cabergoline and pegvisomant are the lowest and highest priced treatments, respectively, but the overall impact on the cost of therapy is minor due to less frequent usage of these drugs. It is hard to fully estimate the impact of comorbidities of acromegaly on financial burden because patients are treated for them many years before the diagnosis of the underlying pathology. The treatment cost of comorbidities is higher in uncontrolled patients. Life-long treatment of acromegaly and its comorbidities is very expensive. Early diagnosis and successful treatment reduce direct and indirect costs.

Pegvisomanto para acromegalia / Pegvisomanto for acromegaly

CONTEXTO: A acromegalia é uma doença crônica, rara e debilitante, causada pela hipersecreção do hormônio do crescimento (GH), que leva a uma produção excessiva do fator de crescimento similar a insulina I (IGF-I), produzido pelo fígado. Resulta numa doença multissistêmica caracterizada por crescimento somático exagerado, comorbidades múltiplas, desfiguramento físico e redução de expectativa de vida. Os objetivos do tratamento são atenuar os sintomas da hipersecreção de GH, reduzir as comorbidades e o risco de mortalidade, preservando as funções normais da hipófise e melhorando a qualidade de vida destes pacientes, através da normalização dos níveis de GH e IGF-I. A adenoidectomia transesfenoidal permanece o tratamento primário da acromegalia e controla estes níveis em 50 a 75% dos pacientes, dependendo da morfologia do adenoma e da experiência do cirurgião. Para aqueles que permanecem com doença ativa após o tratamento cirúrgico, existe tratamento de segunda linha, com medicamentos e radioterapia. Os medicamentos disponíveis são os agonistas da dopamina, os análogos da somatostatina e o pegvisomanto. O pegvisomanto não é disponibilizado atualmente pelo SUS. TECNOLOGIA: Pegvisomanto (PEG-V). INDICAÇÃO: A acromegalia é uma doença crônica, rara e debilitante, causada pela hipersecreção do hormônio do crescimento (GH), que leva a uma produção excessiva do fator de crescimento similar a insulina I (IGF-I), produzido pelo fígado. Resulta numa doença multissistêmica caracterizada por crescimento somático exagerado, comorbidades múltiplas, desfiguramento físico e redução de expectativa de vida. PERGUNTA: O pegvisomanto é eficaz, seguro e custo-efetivo em pacientes com acromegalia refratária ao tratamento convencional? EVIDÊNCIAS CIENTÍFICAS: Os estudos disponíveis que avaliam o pegvisomanto são, em sua maioria, de baixa qualidade metodológica. Os principais desfechos localizados nos artigos foram os níveis de IGF-I e os desfechos clínicos apareceram nos estudos de forma secundária. O pegvisomanto foi eficaz nos estudos controlados quando se avaliaram como desfechos a redução dos níveis sanguíneos de IGF-I e o controle de alguns dos sinais e sintomas característicos da doença. Mesmo existindo estudos de longo prazo e com grande tamanho da amostra, as limitações metodológicas dos estudos trazem incertezas quanto aos benefícios do pegvisomanto na redução dos sinais e sintomas da doença. AVALIAÇÃO DE IMPACTO ORÇAMENTÁRIO: A estimativa de impacto orçamentário anual resultante da incorporação de pegvisomanto no SUS variou de aproximadamente 23 a 206 milhões, dependendo da dose de pegvisomanto utilizada. RECOMENDAÇÃO PRELIMINAR DA CONITEC: Os membros da CONITEC recomendaram por unanimidade a não incorporação no SUS do pegvisomanto para tratamento da acromegalia refratária ao tratamento convencional. CONSULTA PÚBLICA: O Relatório da CONITEC foi disponibilizado por meio da Consulta Pública nº 67/2017 entre os dias 29/11/2017 e 18/12/2017. Foram recebidas 14 contribuições, sendo 5 técnico-científicas e 9 de experiência ou opinião, das quais 7 foram excluídas por não tratar do tema em questão. Das 7 contribuições consideradas, 6 foram totalmente contra a recomendação da CONITEC e 1 foi totalmente a favor. Nas contribuições que foram contra a recomendação da CONITEC, os participantes argumentaram que o pegvisomanto é eficaz e seguro no tratamento de pacientes com acromegalia refratária ao tratamento convencional e fizeram críticas em relação ao impacto orçamentário, considerando-o superestimado. DELIBERAÇÃO FINAL: Os membros da CONITEC consideraram que não houve nenhuma informação nova sobre o tema que motivasse a mudança nas recomendações de não incorporação do pegvisomanto feitas em suas análises anteriores sobre o medicamento. Dessa forma, deliberaram por recomendar a não incorporação do pegvisomanto para acromegalia refratária ao tratamento estabelecido. DECISÃO: Não incorporar o pegvisomanto para acromegalia refratária ao tratamento estabelecido, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde ­ SUS, dada pela Portaria nº 14, publicada no DOU nº 61, do dia 29 de março de 2018, seção 1, pág. 240.(AU)

Postoperative Changes in Metabolic Parameters of Patients with Surgically Controlled Acromegaly: Assessment of New Stringent Cure Criteria.

The criteria for surgical cure of acromegaly have become more stringent during the past decades and a change from Cortina to new consensus criteria has recently been proposed. However, the superiority of the new consensus over Cortina criteria with respect to postoperative metabolic parameters remains to be ascertained. We retrospectively assessed metabolic parameters, the body habitus, and other health-related parameters of 48 patients with surgically controlled acromegaly who met the Cortina criteria [normalized insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and nadir growth hormone (GH) level <1.0 ng/ml during postoperative oral glucose tolerance test]. The 48 patients were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 33) met the new consensus criteria (normalized IGF-1 and nadir GH level <0.4 ng/ml). Group B (n = 15) met Cortina criteria, but their nadir GH ranged from 0.4 to 1.0 ng/ml. In both groups, the level of triglyceride and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly decreased 1 year after the operation (P < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a significant increase only in group B (P = 0.02). However, the two groups did not differ with respect to the postoperative improvement rate of these parameters and the other health-related parameters including body mass index, blood pressure, anterior pituitary function, and self-estimated quality of life scale. In conclusion, our findings show that with respect to changes in metabolic parameters and the body habitus assessed 1 year after surgery, the stricter consensus criteria seemed not to be superior to Cortina criteria.

Biochemical assessment of disease control in acromegaly: reappraisal of the glucose suppression test in somatostatin analogue (SA) treated patients.

BACKGROUND: It is recommended not to measure growth hormone during oral glucose suppression (oral glucose tolerance test) during somatostatin analog treatment in acromegaly. However, we have observed that failure to suppress growth hormone in response to oral glucose tolerance test during somatostatin analog unmasks insufficient disease control and hypothesize that somatostatin analog also induces insufficient growth hormone suppression to mixed meals. METHODS: We therefore compared serum growth hormone levels during two mixed meals in patients with controlled insulin-like growth factor-I levels after either surgery alone (n = 9) or somatostatin analog treatment (n = 9). The patients were unbiasedly matched for gender and insulin-like growth factor-I and studied twice in the following order: (1) during a 6 h growth hormone day curve including two mixed meals and (2) during a 3 h growth hormone profile including 60 min fasting followed by a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: During the day curve growth hormone levels were elevated in the somatostatin analog group (P = 0.008) and growth hormone levels 1 h after each meal declined significantly only in the surgery group (P = 0.02). During the oral glucose tolerance test the two groups had similar growth hormone levels prior to the glucose load (P = 0.6), whereas a significant 66% suppression was observed after glucose only in the surgery group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients controlled by somatostatin analog fail to suppress growth hormone in response to both mixed meals and oral glucose tolerance test (2) This phenomenon is likely to result in elevated serum growth hormone levels during everyday life in somatostatin analog-treated patients, (3) We postulate that measuring growth hormone levels during oral glucose tolerance test is useful to unmask potential somatostatin analog under-treatment in the presence of 'safe' insulin-like growth factor-I levels.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of two therapeutic schemes in the treatment of acromegaly: a retrospective study of 168 cases.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to estimate the cost effectiveness of two therapeutic schemes, including preoperative medical therapy and surgery as primary therapy. METHODS: A total of 168 acromegaly cases were retrospectively investigated for a comparative evaluation of surgery and preoperative medical therapy. A Markov model was developed to simulate treatment cost-effectiveness and progression of acromegaly. RESULTS: Overall effectiveness of preoperative medical therapy was significantly higher than surgery in acromegalic patients with macroadenoma. In addition, life expectancy, and cost per life-year gained were slightly higher in the preoperative medical therapy group than in the initial surgery group when patients received surgery as a secondary treatment. Interestingly, preoperative medical therapy achieved a significant increase in life expectancy and reduced cost for patients who received long-term medical therapy as secondary treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In acromegalic patients with macroadenoma, the cost-effectiveness analysis revealed more satisfactory outcomes in preoperative therapy, compared with primary surgery.

Pegvisomanto para acromegalia / Pegvisomanto for acromegaly

CONTEXTO: A acromegalia é uma doença sistêmica crônica caracterizada pela produção excessiva de hormônio do crescimento (GH) após o fechamento das epífises e que pode ser causada por diferentes condições clínicas. O Ministério da Saúde elaborou e disponibilizou, por meio da Portaria nº 199, de 25 de fevereiro de 2013, Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas para o tratamento da doença e o SUS faz a oferta de toda a linha de cuidado prevista no referido protocolo, que inclui além de procedimento cirúrgico e radiológico, o tratamento por meio de medicamentos como os análogos da somatostatina (octreotida e lanreotida) e agonistas da dopamina. Atualmente, o medicamento pegvisomanto é indicado em bula para acromegálicos que apresentaram resposta inadequada à cirurgia e/ou à radioterapia e para aqueles pacientes cujo tratamento médico com análogos da somatostatina não normalizou as concentrações séricas de IGF-I ou não foi tolerado. A TECNOLOGIA: O pegvisomanto é produzido em E. Coli por tecnologia de DNA recombinante. É uma proteína contendo 191 resíduos de aminoácidos para os quais vários polímeros de polietilenoglicol (PEG) estão covalentemente ligados (predominantemente 4 a 6 PEG/molécula de proteína). O pegvisomanto é um análogo do hormônio de crescimento humano (GH) geneticamente modificado para agir como antagonista do receptor do hormônio de crescimento. O pegvisomanto liga-se seletivamente aos receptores do hormônio de crescimento na superfície das células, bloqueando a ligação do hormônio de crescimento endógeno, interferindo, dessa forma, na transdução do sinal intracelular do hormônio de crescimento. EVIDÊNCIAS CIENTÍFICAS: Foram analisados quatro estudos intervencionais e três observacionais por meio dos quais se avaliaram a intervenção de pegvisomanto em parâmetros bioquímicos de população heterogênea de pacientes acromegálicos com diferentes histórias e respostas a tratamentos prévios. Além disso, avaliaram-se também a influência do tratamento com pegvisomanto em sinais e sintomas clínicos da acromegalia como artralgia, pressão sanguínea e alguns parâmetros cardiovasculares. Observou-se, pela análise dos estudos intervencionais, que pegvisomanto normalizou os níveis sanguíneos de IGF-1 para a idade em 56 a 80% dos pacientes tratados com diferentes esquemas posológicos do medicamento em monoterapia e em associação. A influência do tratamento em sinais e sintomas da doença foi pouco expressiva e bastante heterogênea entre os pacientes recrutados para participar dos estudos. Da mesma forma observou-se pequena alteração na qualidade de vida de pacientes tratados no período de 7 a 27 meses. Em estudo observacional utilizado para acompanhar a evolução clínica de 1.288 pacientes com acromegalia e em tratamento com pegvisomanto por cinco anos observou-se taxa de normalização dos níveis sanguíneos de IGF-1 em pouco mais de 63% do grupo de pacientes acompanhados. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: A possibilidade de incorporação de pegvisomanto para o tratamento de acromegalia ao SUS foi avaliada em pelo menos dois momentos. Em uma primeira avaliação conduzida pela própria CONITEC, constatou-se não haver estudos com tempo de seguimento suficiente para que se determinasse a eficácia e segurança do medicamento em longo prazo, considerando a necessidade de uso crônico de pegvisomanto. Depois, em 2013, o Ministério da Saúde publicou protocolo clínico baseado em ampla revisão da literatura por meio do qual decidiu não incluir o medicamento ao arsenal ofertado para o tratamento medicamentoso da doença no SUS. Uma nova análise provocada pelo demandante nessa segunda submissão identificou que o medicamento é eficaz em estudos controlados quando se avaliam como desfechos a redução dos níveis sanguíneos de IGF-1 e o controle de alguns dos sinais e sintomas característicos da doença. DELIBERAÇÃO FINAL: Os membros da CONITEC presentes na reunião do plenário do dia 06/05/2015 deliberaram, por unanimidade, recomendar a não incorporação de pegvisomanto em monoterapia para o tratamento de acromegalia. DECISÃO: PORTARIA Nº 24, de 8 de junho de 2015 - Torna pública a decisão de não incorporar o pegvisomanto para tratamento da acromegalia no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS.

A practical approach to acromegaly management in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based treatment guidelines have undoubtedly advanced medical practice and supported optimal management of acromegaly, but their application may be hampered by limited access to the latest treatment options. METHODS: In this retrospective, narrative review, the authors revisited existing treatment guidelines for acromegaly in Latin America. These were considered in conjunction with published evidence chosen at the authors' discretion. FINDINGS: In a socially and economically diverse region, such as Latin America, any regional practice guidelines need to appreciate that recommended treatment options, such as surgery by expert pituitary surgical teams and drug therapies, especially somatostatin analogs, are often not available due to limited resources. In these instances, physicians may be obliged to apply less effective therapeutic options. CONCLUSIONS: The current article looks at the practical aspects of acromegaly management in Latin America and discusses this in the context of existing guidelines. Furthermore, we consider potential strategies to make better use of resources through combination and multimodal approaches to treatment.

[Assessment of treatment effect for acromegaly with sleep disordered breathing].

Acromegaly is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH) and presents with a variety of clinical manifestations, including facial disfigurement and abnormally large hands and feet, as well as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Although SDB is known to be associated with serious symptoms, there have been few study reports, and no clear consensus has been reached regarding the method of assessment of individual treatments. We report herein on the results of surgical intervention with transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for acromegaly and assessment of the treatment effect after the intervention. We studied 6 patients who received a diagnosis of acromegaly complicated with SDB and underwent TSS at our hospital. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed before and after TSS, and the polysomnograms were analyzed. We also examined changes in the levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on blood biochemistry. In 6 cases of acromegaly with SDB, we were able to confirm endocrinologic improvement of TSS with blood biochemistry. However there was no meaningful improvement in the PSG index for SDB.

Quality of life is impaired in association with the need for prolonged postoperative therapy by somatostatin analogs in patients with acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of long-acting somatostatin analogs (SSTA) after initial pituitary surgery on long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in relation to disease control in patients with acromegaly. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study in two tertiary referral centers in The Netherlands. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with acromegaly, in whom transsphenoidal (n=101, 94%) or transcranial (n=7, 6%) surgery was performed. Subsequently, 46 (43%) received additional radiotherapy and 41 (38%) were on postoperative treatment with SSTA because of persistent or recurrent disease at the time of study. All subjects filled in standardized questionnaires measuring HR-QoL. Disease control at the time of study was assessed by local IGF1 SDS. RESULTS: IGF1 SDS were slightly higher in patients treated with SSTA in comparison with patients without use of SSTA (0.85±1.52 vs 0.25±1.21, P=0.026), but the percentage of patients with insufficient control (IGF1 SDS >2) was not different (17 vs 9%, P=0.208). Patients using SSTA reported poorer scores on most subscales of the RAND-36 and the acromegaly QoL and on all subscales of the multidimensional fatigue inventory-20. A subgroup analysis in patients with similar IGF1 levels (SSTA+, n=26, IGF1 SDS 0.44±0.72 vs SSTA-, n=44, IGF1 SDS 0.41±0.65) revealed worse scores on physical functioning, physical fatigue, reduced activity, vitality, and general health perception across all HR-QoL questionnaires in patients treated with SSTA. CONCLUSION: QoL is impaired in association with the need for prolonged postoperative therapy by SSTA in patients with acromegaly despite similar IGF1 levels.

Intraoperative conversion from endoscopic to microscopic approach for the management of sellar pathology: incidence and rationale in a contemporary series.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach has become widely used for pituitary and extended skull base operations. Intraoperative conversion to a microscopic approach may be an important option in selected cases. We aim to characterize the operative situations in which such conversion occurred and facilitated the procedure. METHODS: From April 2008 through August 2009, 148 planned endoscopic transsphenoidal approaches were performed. All cases were retrospectively reviewed to identify those patients converted to a microscopic approach. Clinical and operative characteristics, reasons for conversion, and patient outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 148 endoscopic cases, conversion was undertaken in 27 (18%). Ten patients (37%) had undergone previous transsphenoidal surgery. Reasons for conversion in nonreoperation cases were atypical nasal anatomy (6 patients), acromegaly with distorted anatomy (5 patients), desire for binocular vision (3 patients), complex sphenoid sinus anatomy and difficulty visualizing sella/midline (2 patients), and obstructive mucosal bleeding (1 patient). Of the 10 reoperation procedures, conversions occurred in 3 patients with Cushing's disease and 2 with acromegaly. The primary reasons for conversion in reoperations were scarring with loss of anatomic landmarks (4 patients), mucosal bleeding (2 patients), acromegaly with distorted anatomy (2 patients), technical problem with visualization (1 patient), and desire for binocular surgery (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS: Although endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery provides superior visualization in most patients, conversion to a microscopic or endoscopic-assisted approach may provide essential visualization in selected patients. This may be especially true in patients undergoing reoperation and patients with acromegaly or Cushing's disease. Trainees learning the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach should become familiar with the benefits and limitations of the various transsphenoidal approaches.

Cost-effectiveness of lanreotide Autogel in treatment algorithms of acromegaly.

The introduction of effective pharmacological treatments has changed the management of acromegaly. However, chronic, life-long treatment with somatostatin analogues and/or growth hormone receptor antagonists is very expensive. We estimated the costs of treatment algorithms to control acromegaly from a Dutch perspective. We used the following assumptions: after the diagnosis of acromegaly there is a mean remaining lifespan of approximately 33 years; the success rates of surgery and somatostatin analogues in controlling the disease are approximately 60%; and the lifelong costs of different algorithms to control acromegaly in 100 patients ranged from 43 million euros (primary surgery and secondary somatostatin analogues) to 57 million euros (primary somatostatin analogues and secondary surgery) and even reached 95 million euros (medical treatment only). In algorithms that include trans-sphenoidal surgery, the lifetime treatment costs are almost 46-59% cheaper per 100 patients than in algorithms with medical treatment but without trans-sphenoidal surgery. Algorithms with primary surgery and secondary somatostatin analogs are 30% cheaper per 100 patients than algorithms with primary somatostatin analogues and secondary surgery. Per 100 patients, algorithms including lanreotide Autogel are 14-34% more expensive than algorithms including octreotide long-acting release. These life-long costs should be taken into consideration when making choices between treatment algorithms.

The utility of oral glucose tolerance testing for diagnosis and assessment of treatment outcomes in 166 patients with acromegaly.

CONTEXT: GH suppression after oral glucose load [oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)] and normal age- and gender-matched IGF-I levels reflect biochemical control of acromegaly. The OGTT is the gold standard for determining control of GH secretion at diagnosis and after surgical treatment, but the usefulness of performing an OGTT in patients treated with medical therapy has not been determined. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess relationships between basal GH levels (basal GH), GH responses to OGTT [GH nadir (GHn)], and IGF-I levels. DESIGN: This was a retrospective electronic database review. SETTING: This study was performed at a tertiary outpatient pituitary center. PATIENTS: A total of 166 patients with acromegaly (79 females, 87 males) were included in the study. Four categories of testing were performed: diagnosis, postoperative assessment without medication, testing during somatostatin analog (SA) therapy, and testing during dopamine agonist (DA) therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Basal serum GH and IGF-I levels and GH levels 2 h after 75 g OGTT were measured. RESULTS: A total of 482 simultaneous OGTT and IGF-I measurements were observed from 1985--2008. Discordant results of oral glucose tolerance testing (GHn and IGF-I) were observed 33, 48, and 18% in postoperative assessment without medication, SA, and DA categories, respectively. In the SA category, 42% of tests were discordant with normal IGF-I and nonsuppressed GHn. In contrast, 4% of tests were discordant with normal IGF-I and nonsuppressed GH in those treated with DA. No significant differences in discordance were observed when basal GH was used. CONCLUSIONS: Both basal and GHn levels are highly discordant with IGF-I levels during medical therapy with SAs. The OGTT is not useful in assessing biochemical control in these subjects.

Ghrelin test for the assessment of GH status in successfully treated patients with acromegaly.

OBJECTIVE: Posttreatment assessment of disease activity and definition of cure of acromegaly, using measurement of GH secretion, remains problematic. Furthermore, with our efforts to achieve tight biochemical control of the disease it is foreseeable that a proportion of patients may be rendered GH deficient, thus requiring testing for GH deficiency. The aim of our study was to evaluate residual GH secretion in cured patients with acromegaly. DESIGN AND METHODS: At baseline, circulating GH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, leptin and lipid (cholesterol and tri-glycerides) levels were measured in 33 acromegalic patients nine years after treatment with surgery of whom 6 were additionally irradiated. Two tests were performed: the GH suppression test--oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the GH provocation test--ghrelin test (1 microg/kg i.v. bolus) and the results were compared with 11 age- and sex-matched control subjects. RESULTS: According to the consensus criteria (normal IGF-I levels and post-OGTT GH nadir <1 microg/l), 21 treated acromegalic patients were cured, 6 had discordant IGF-I and GH nadir values during OGTT, while 6 had persistent acromegaly. After the GH provocative test with ghrelin (cut-off for severe GH deficiency is GH <3 microg/l), we detected 9 severely GH deficient patients (GHD) among 21 cured acromegalic patients. Mean GH peak (+/-s.e.m.) response to the ghrelin test in GHD acromegalics was significantly lower compared with acromegalics with sufficient GH secretory capacity and control subjects (1.2 +/- 0.2 microg/l vs 20.1 +/- 2.4 microg/l vs 31.1 +/- 2.5 microg/l respectively, P<0.0001). Mean IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were not different between GHD and GH-sufficient cured acromegalics. Leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in GHD male acromegalics compared with GH-sufficient male acromegalics. GHD female acromegalics tended to have higher BMIs while leptin levels were not different. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of residual GH secretory capacity by the GH provocation test is necessary in the long-term follow-up of successfully treated acromegalics since a large proportion of these patients are rendered GH deficient.

Current pharmacotherapy for acromegaly: a review.

Acromegaly is associated with considerable morbidity and excess mortality; however, after effective treatment, both morbidity and mortality risks improve. Growth hormone excess in acromegaly can be controlled in many patients by pharmacotherapy alone, and with a combination of transsphenoidal surgery and pharmacotherapy in almost all patients. Since the clinical introduction of pegvisomant, a growth hormone-receptor antagonist, the role of radiotherapy is restricted. This review focuses on the treatment options for acromegaly (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy and pharmacotherapy with the depot preparations of the somatostatin analogues octreotide long-acting release formulation, lanreotide slow-release formulation and lanreotide Autogel, the growth hormone antagonist pegvisomant and the dopamine agonist cabergoline). Pharmacological characteristics of these drugs and the clinical and adverse effects are discussed individually and in relation to the other treatment modalities. The evidence for biochemical goals aimed at during medical treatment and the costs of pharmacotherapy are discussed. A new treatment algorithm is proposed, in which the choice between primary medical treatment and primary surgery is individualised, dependent on adenoma size and extension, patient factors (age, preference for therapy, contraindication for surgery), surgical experience of the centre and octreotide sensitivity of the adenoma. The high cost of lifelong medical treatment, especially of pegvisomant, must be weighed against the cost of a single surgical procedure.

Can treatment with somatostatin analogs replace neurosurgery?

There is an ongoing controversy on first-line treatment in acromegaly. Although transsphenoidal surgery has always traditionally been considered the first option, the evolution of new medical treatments is now challenging the clinical paradigm. In fact, somatostatin analogs are highly effective, convenient, avoid the growth of tumors or even shrink them, and also have the advantage of preserving normal pituitary function. On the other hand, when successful, neurosurgery has the advantage of eliminating long-term medical treatment and is less expensive. This manuscript discusses the pros and cons of both treatments.