Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Nonenzymatic advanced glycation and oxidation end-products, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), impart a potent impact on vessels in diabetic state and in euglycaemic conditions with increased oxidative stress.

The aim of this study is to measure AGEs and its relationship with carotid intimae media thickness (CIMT) in acromegaly patients.

Method: A case–control study was performed in 225 acromegalic patients (F/M: 116/109, 50.6±11 years.) and age and sex matched 100 controls (F/M: 58/42, 52.6±11 years.).Skin autofluorescence (SAF) is a validated noninvasive measure of tissue AGEs SAF was measured with the AGE Reader. Serum carboxymethyl lysine (CML) was measured with ELIZA method. HbA1c and growth hormone was measured by HPLC and immunochemiluminescence method respectively. CIMT was assessed with Doppler ultrasonography.

Results: SAF was higher inacromegalic patients (1.95±0.32 arbitrary units (AU) compared with controls (1.62±033 AU) (P=0.003). serum CML levels were higher in acromegalics (0.245±0.11 ng/dl) compared with controls (0.175±0.07 ng/dl) (P=0.002). CIMT measures were 0.62±0.14 and 0.59±0.14 mm for acromegalic and control groups respectively (P<0.0001). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between SAF and serum CML (r=−0.35, P=0.002), CIMT (r=0.25, P=0.004) and serum growth hormone levels (r=0.33, P=0.03). sCML levels were higher in uncontrolled acromegalics compared to uncontrolled patients. Accumulation of tissue AGEs is increased in acromegalic patients.

Conclusion: SAF and sCML levels increased in acromgalic patients regardless of hyperglycemia. AGE may have a role in the cardiovascular outcomes of acromegalic patients.