Association of Metformin With the Development of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Importance: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness with no treatment available for early stages. Retrospective studies have shown an association between metformin and reduced risk of AMD. Objective: To investigate the association between metformin use and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design, Setting, and Participants: The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study is a cross-sectional follow-up phase of a large multicenter randomized clinical trial, Diabetes Prevention Program (1996-2001), to investigate the association of treatment with metformin or an intensive lifestyle modification vs placebo with preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes in a population at high risk for developing diabetes. Participants with retinal imaging at a follow-up visit 16 years posttrial (2017-2019) were included. Analysis took place between October 2019 and May 2022. Interventions: Participants were randomly distributed between 3 interventional arms: lifestyle, metformin, and placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of AMD in the treatment arms. Results: Of 1592 participants, 514 (32.3%) were in the lifestyle arm, 549 (34.5%) were in the metformin arm, and 529 (33.2%) were in the placebo arm. All 3 arms were balanced for baseline characteristics including age (mean [SD] age at randomization, 49 [9] years), sex (1128 [71%] male), race and ethnicity (784 [49%] White), smoking habits, body mass index, and education level. AMD was identified in 479 participants (30.1%); 229 (14.4%) had early AMD, 218 (13.7%) had intermediate AMD, and 32 (2.0%) had advanced AMD. There was no significant difference in the presence of AMD between the 3 groups: 152 (29.6%) in the lifestyle arm, 165 (30.2%) in the metformin arm, and 162 (30.7%) in the placebo arm. There was also no difference in the distribution of early, intermediate, and advanced AMD between the intervention groups. Mean duration of metformin use was similar for those with and without AMD (mean [SD], 8.0 [9.3] vs 8.5 [9.3] years; P = .69). In the multivariate models, history of smoking was associated with increased risks of AMD (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05-1.61; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance: These data suggest neither metformin nor lifestyle changes initiated for diabetes prevention were associated with the risk of any AMD, with similar results for AMD severity. Duration of metformin use was also not associated with AMD. This analysis does not address the association of metformin with incidence or progression of AMD.

Rituximab treatment of patients with severe, corticosteroid-resistant thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: To study the effectiveness of anti-CD20 (rituximab [RTX]; Rituxan; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) therapy in patients with severe, corticosteroid (CS)-resistant thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Six consecutive subjects with severe, progressive TAO unresponsive to CS. METHODS: Electronic medical record review of consecutive patients receiving RTX during the previous 18 months. Responses to therapy were graded using standard clinical assessment and flow cytometric analysis of peripheral lymphocytes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical activity score (CAS), proptosis, strabismus, treatment side effects, and quantification of regulatory T cells. RESULTS: Six patients were studied. Systemic CS failed to alter clinical activity in all patients (mean CAS+/-standard deviation, 5.3+/-1.0 before vs. 5.5+/-0.8 during therapy for 7.5+/-6.4 months; P = 1.0). However, after RTX treatment, CAS improved from 5.5+/-0.8 to 1.3+/-0.5 at 2 months after treatment (P<0.03) and remained quiescent in all patients (CAS, 0.7+/-0.8; P<0.0001) at a mean follow-up of 6.2+/-4.5 months. Vision improved bilaterally in all 4 patients with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). None of the 6 patients experienced disease relapse after RTX infusion, and proptosis remained stable (Hertel measurement, 24+/-3.7 mm before therapy and 23.6+/-3.7 mm after therapy; P = 0.17). The abundance of T regulatory cells, assessed in 1 patient, increased within 1 week of RTX and remained elevated at 18 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In progressive, CS-resistant TAO, rapid and sustained resolution of orbital inflammation and DON followed treatment with RTX. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Genome-wide linkage of plasma adiponectin reveals a major locus on chromosome 3q distinct from the adiponectin structural gene: the IRAS family study.

Adiponectin (APM1) is an adipocyte-derived peptide that contributes to glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis. We assessed the genetic basis of plasma adiponectin in Hispanic-American and African-American families enrolled through the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study Family Study. A 10-cM genome scan was performed in two batches: an original set (set 1) consisting of 66 families (45 Hispanic American and 21 African American) and a replication set (set 2) consisting of 66 families (45 Hispanic American and 21 African American). Adiponectin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 1,727 individuals from 131 of 132 families. Linkage analysis was carried out in Hispanic Americans and African Americans separately in set 1, set 2, and the pooled set (set 1 plus set 2), with and without diabetic subjects. A major gene was mapped to 3q27 with a logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 8.21 in the Hispanic-American sample. Ninety-six unrelated individuals were screened for polymorphisms in the APM1 gene, and 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the Hispanic-American sample. Plasma adiponectin level was modestly associated with two SNPs and their accompaning haplotypes. Incorporating each or both SNPs in the linkage analysis, however, did not significantly reduce the LOD score. Therefore, a quantitative trait locus at 3q27, likely distinct from the APM1 gene, contributes to the variation of plasma adiponectin levels in the Hispanic-American population.

Changes in Visceral Adiposity, Subcutaneous Adiposity, and Sex Hormones in the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Context: The degree to which changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) relate to corresponding changes in plasma sex steroids is not known. Objective: We examined whether changes in VAT and SAT areas assessed by computed tomography were associated with changes in sex hormones [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, estradiol, estrone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] among Diabetes Prevention Program participants. Design: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Participants: Overweight and glucose-intolerant men (n = 246) and women (n = 309). Interventions: Intensive lifestyle change with goals of weight reduction and 150 min/wk of moderate intensity exercise or metformin administered 850 mg twice a day or placebo. Main Outcome Measures: Associations between changes in VAT, SAT, and sex hormone changes over 1 year. Results: Among men, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with significant increases in total testosterone and SHBG in fully adjusted models. Among women, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with increases in SHBG and associations with estrone differed by menopausal status. Associations were similar by race/ethnicity and by randomization arm. No significant associations were observed between change in fat depot with change in estradiol or DHEAS. Conclusions: Among overweight adults with impaired glucose intolerance, reductions in either VAT and SAT were associated with increased total testosterone in men and higher SHBG in men and women. Weight loss may affect sex hormone profiles via reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism associated with thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas with iopanoic acid.

TSH-secreting tumors comprise less than 2% of all pituitary adenomas. All patients present with hyperthyroidism with a detectable TSH level, and a majority have macroadenomas. Oral cholecystographic agents (e.g. iopanoic acid) potently inhibit the activation of T(4) to the more potent T(3). They have been used successfully to treat primary thyroidal hyperthyroidism and thyroxine overdose. However, they have not been employed in the treatment of central hyperthyroidism. We report, herein, the first two patients with thyrotropinomas, in whom iopanoic acid (Telepaque) has been used perioperatively to safely and rapidly achieve euthyroidism. In case 1, free T(3) index improved from a value of 634 to 175 (normal range 78-162) after 3 d of therapy with iopanoic acid. In case 2, free T(3) by dialysis improved from 697 pg/dl (10.7 pmol/liter) to 195 pg/dl (3.0 pmol/liter) (normal range 210-440 pg/dl; 3.2-6.7 pmol/liter) after 7 d of therapy with iopanoic acid.