RESUMEN
AIM: Acromegaly is a rare chronic disease, caused by the over-secretion of growth hormone (GH), that creates a pro-inflammatory state, but the exact mechanisms by which GH or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) act on inflammatory cells are not fully understood. Aim of the study was to evaluate Interleukin-33 (IL33) and the skin perfusion of hands in patients with acromegaly (AP) and healthy controls (HC). METHODS: IL33 have been assessed in 40 AP and 40 HC. IL 33 was determined and skin perfusion of hands was assessed by laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) in both populations. RESULTS: IL33 was significantly higher in AP compared to HC [45.72 pg/ml (IQR 28.74-60.86) vs 14 pg/ml (IQR 6.5535); p < 0.05]. At LASCA, peripheral blood perfusion (PBP) was significantly lower in AP compared to HC [53.39 pU (IQR 40.94-65.44) vs 87 pU (IQR 80-98) p < 0.001]. The median values of ROI1, ROI2 and ROI3 were significantly lower in AP compared to HC [97.32 pU (IQR 50.89-121.69) vs 131 pU (IQR 108-135); p < 0.001], [58.68 pU (IQR 37.72-84.92) vs 83 pU (IQR 70-89), p < 0.05] and HC [52.16 (34.47-73.78) vs 85 (78-98), p < 0.001], respectively. The proximal-distal gradient (PDG) was observed in 18 of 40 (45%) AP. CONCLUSION: Serum IL33 is higher in AP compared to HC; conversely a reduction of PBP of hands was present in AP compared to HC, probably due to endothelial dysfunction, strictly dependent on acromegaly and are not influenced by the choice of treatment.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) is defined as the threshold at which two tactile stimuli applied to the skin are perceived as clearly distinct. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the extent of STDT alterations differs between patients with parkinsonian type multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Possible differences between the two groups may help to differentiate MSA-P from PD. METHODS: STDT was investigated in 20 patients with MSA-P, 21 patients with PD and 18 age-matched healthy subjects. The clinical evaluation included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hoehn and Yahr Scale, Frontal Assessment Battery, Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale for patients with MSA-P, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale for patients with PD. STDT was investigated by delivering paired electrical stimuli starting with an inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of 0 ms (simultaneous pair), and progressively increasing the ISIs in 10-ms steps. RESULTS: Between-group anova showed that STDT statistically differed in MSA-P versus patients with PD and healthy subjects. Post hoc showed that STDT values in patients with MSA-P were significantly higher than those in patients with PD and healthy subjects. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that STDT testing yielded high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: STDT is abnormal in patients with MSA-P and PD. The degree of STDT abnormalities is higher in patients with MSA-P than in patients with PD.
