Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV), is an indicator of platelet sizes, and an indirect marker of platelet function and activity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate MPV in patients with acromegaly, and to investigate the effects of octreotide long acting repeatable (LAR) on MPV after 6-month therapy.

Methods: Data of 25 patients with acromegaly (16 women; 9 men; mean age, 43.8±13.5 years) included in the study were searched retrospectively. The data at diagnosis of the patient group was compared with a control group of 30 people similar for gender, mean age, body mass index, and co-morbid diseases. Eighteen patients of those had been unsuccessfully treated with surgery.

At the second stage of the study, the values of this patients with active acromegaly in postoperative period who receiving octreotide LAR 20–30 mg/month for at least 6 months for secondary treatment, were compared to the data of the control group and control values at 6th month of the therapy.

Results: Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and fibrinogen levels were higher, while HDL-cholesterol levels were lower in patients than in controls. As a marker of platelet functions, when MPVs were compared, no significant difference was detected between patients with acromegaly and control group (8.90±1.48 vs 8.81±1.26, P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment with octreotide LAR in 18 patients with acromegaly, a decrease in GH, IGF-1, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and fibrinogen levels were observed. Also, involution rate in MPV (8.93±1.25 vs 8,49±1.21, P<0.05) were found statistically significant.

Conclusion: In this study, the first data about the effects of the disease and octreotide LAR, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, on MPV were presented. MPV is not affected in acromegaly patients, however, a decrease in MPV is observed following treatment with octreotide LAR.