Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Glucose metabolism disorder (GMD) is a classic complication of acromegaly, but its frequency varies from study to study.

Aim: We aimed to analyze GMD frequency in our population, and predictive factors such as: family history of diabetes mellitus (DM), age, gender, and GH rates.

Subjects and methods: It is a prospective study where 75 hypersomatotropic subjects were analyzed. They all had fasting and postprandial blood glucose evaluation. When the last ones were normal glucose tolerance test was done and analyzed according to the WHO recommendations.

Results: In our group GMD were observed in 41 patients (22M/19F)=55%. Diabetes mellitus was found in 27 subjects (65%), and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 14 (35%). The diagnosis of DM was made before the hypersomatotropism’s one in 37%, the delay was 5 years. Mean age at diagnosis for diabetic patients was 40±11years, and 38±13 years for non-diabetic subjects. Glucose metabolism disorders were more frequent in women: 54 vs 46% for men, but the difference was not statistically significant. Mean plasma GH was=75.25 ng/ml in DM subjects vs 46.1 ng/ml for non-diabetic patients (P<0.05). For family history of diabetes mellitus there was no difference between both groups.

Conclusion: In this study 55% hypersomatotopic subjects suffer from GMD. DM is more frequent than IGT (65 vs 35%). On the statistical side, there is a positive correlation between GMD and GH concentrations, but not with gender, age and family history of DM.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.