Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine characteristics and treatment patterns of Polish acromegalic patients.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was conducted. Adult acromegalic patients treated medically for ≥1 year including at least three injections of lanreotide AUTOGEL 120 were recruited in 36 centres between 29/10/2010 and 31/03/2012. Descriptive analysis was performed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment history and disease control. Biochemical control was defined as GH ≤2.5 mg/l.

Results: A total of 143 patients were included, mean age (S.D.) of 51.4 years (14.0) and mean BMI 29.4 (S.D. 6), 71.3% female, coming from 36 centres in different Polish regions. The most commonly reported symptoms of the disease were headache (84% of patients) and arthralgia (82% of patients). Comorbidities included: hypertension (60.1%), diabetes (33%), and gall stones (21.7%). Macroadenoma was present in 79% of patients, microadenoma – in 16.1%, the mean tumor size was 19.1 mm (S.D. 12.2). Hyperprolactinemia was found in 16% of cases. 74.8% of patients had undergone pituitary surgery, 18.8% received external radiotherapy. In the moment of inclusion, the mean time since surgery/radiotherapy was 7.3/7.7 years respectively. 83% patients were treated with octreotide LAR before switching to lanreotide AUTOGEL 120. As additional treatment 28 patients (20%) received bromocriptine, 11 patients (7.7%) – cabergoline and 10 (7%) – pegvisomant. Owing to concomitant pituitary insufficiency in 67 patients (47%) levothyroxine (n=57), hydrocortisone (n=46), desmopressine (n=5) and sex hormones (n=30) were used. 54% of patients with GH data (n=101) achieved biochemical control of their disease. In the population of patients receiving octreotide LAR 30, then lanreotide AUTOGEL 120, mean interval between subsequent doses was 4 weeks for octreotide and 5 weeks for lanreotide.

Conclusions: The study population represents a wide cross-section of acromegalic patients – their demographic and clinical characteristics under the conditions of the health care in Poland.