Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Switching to Pasireotide in Patients With Acromegaly Inadequately Controlled With First-Generation Somatostatin Analogs.

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare, serious endocrine disorder characterized by excess growth hormone (GH) secretion by a pituitary adenoma and overproduction of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Transsphenoidal surgery is the treatment of choice, although many patients require additional interventions. First-generation somatostatin analogs (SSAs) are the current standard of medical therapy; however, not all patients achieve control of GH and IGF-I. Outcomes from a Phase IIIb open-label study of patients with uncontrolled acromegaly on first-generation SSAs switching to pasireotide are reported. Methods: Adults with uncontrolled acromegaly (mean GH [mGH] ≥1 µg/L from a five-point profile over 2 h, and IGF-I >1.3× upper limit of normal [ULN]) despite ≥3 months' treatment with maximal approved doses of long-acting octreotide/lanreotide received open-label long-acting pasireotide 40 mg/28 days. Pasireotide dose could be increased (maximum: 60 mg/28 days) after week 12 if biochemical control was not achieved, or decreased (minimum: 10 mg/28 days) for tolerability. Patients who completed 36 weeks' treatment could continue receiving pasireotide during an extension (weeks 36-72) when concomitant medication for acromegaly was permitted. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients with mGH <1 µg/L and IGF-I 2.5 µg/L. For patients who entered the extension, 14.8% (95% CI: 8.1-23.9), 12.5% (95% CI: 6.4-21.3), 14.8% (95% CI: 8.1-23.9) and 11.4% (95% CI: 5.6-19.9) had mGH <1 µg/L and IGF-I

[Necrotizing scleritis and recurrent erythema nodosum: a diagnostic challenge]. / Escleritis necrotizante y eritema nodoso recurrente: un reto diagnóstico. Informe de un caso.

The necrotizing scleritis and recurrent erythema nodosum, two clinical entities difficult to diagnose and which represent a challenge to the physician. Tuberculosis produces both processes by an immune reaction of delayed hypersensitivity type IV to various antigenic components of mycobacteria. Most tuberculosis patients have no ocular history of pulmonary or systemic disease in up to 50 % and no evidence of pathology in the chest radiograph. An adequate treatment leads to a favorable prognosis. It occurs when the diagnosis of infection is made on time. We describe the case of a woman with necrotizing scleritis associated with recurrent erythema nodosum secondary to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.