Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aim: Hypersomatotropism is known to be associated with musculoskeletal disorders, particularly, osteoporosis and increased fracture rates. However controversial data about the effects of acromegaly on bone mineral density (BMD) have been published. The aim of our research was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with hypersomatotropism.

Materials and methods: The study included 66 patients (20 men, 44 women) with hypersomatotropism (mean age 52±11.37 years, BMI 29.64±4.87 kg/m²). In 64% (42 cases) acromegaly was caused by pituitary macroadenoma, in 36% (24 cases) by pituitary microadenoma. Serum GH and IGF1 concentration were elevated in all patients (6.7±4.3 ng/ml; 475.9±209.1 ng/ml accordingly). Control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers (10 men and 21 women) matched for age and antropometric data (mean age 50.72+10.23 years; BMI 29.38+4.81 kg/m²). Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated by dual X-ray absorbtiometry (DXA).

Results: We observed statistically significantly lower BMD values of the lumbar spine in patients with hypersomatotropism than in control subjects (1.19 (0.09–1.37) vs 1.32 (1.26–1.37) g/m², U=938.5; P=0.009). In the group of patients with hypersomatotropism older than 50 years osteoporosis was revealed in 10.9% (five patients); osteopenia – in 23.9% (11 patients) predominantly at lumbar spine (−0.08±1.53 vs 0.21±1.03; P<0.05). In the group of 20 young age participants (men under 50 and women of reproductive period) low bone mass was registered at one patient (5%).

Conclusion: The results demonstrate a high prevalence of low bone mineral density at the spine in men older 50 years and postmenopausal women with acromegaly. Further investigation might be needed to predict risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with hypersomatotropism.