Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Acromegaly is characterized by hormonal excess of GH and IGF-1, however many patients suffer from hypopituitarism as a result from either disease or treatment. Quality of Life (QoL) is known to be reduced both in acromegaly, with mixed results on the role of biochemical control herein, and hypopituitarism. Studies report the level of surgery-induced hypopituitarism after acromegaly at 12.79% (CI 9.88–16.00%). Treatment of acromegaly aimed at normalization of hormone levels may therefore result in hypopituitarism with concomitant reduced QoL. Particularly Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) has been reported to be a risk factor for reduced QoL.

Aim: The primary aim is investigate whether correction of GHD, results in improvement of clinical outcomes. Second, we aim to investigate whether correction of corticotroph deficiency, thyroid deficiency, prolatin defiency as well as panhypopituitarism results in improvement of clinical outcomes, particularly when compared to correction of GHD. Third, we intend to investigate whether hormone deficiencies following other pituitary diseases such as Cushing’s disease, prolactinoma and Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma (NFPA) have a similar effect on QoL when compared to acromegaly.

Outcomes: A composite score from the KIMS study group applying waist circumference, total cholesterol and disease specific QoL has been used to evaluate the clinical response to GH suppletion. We further augment this score to investigate the clinical response after other deficiencies, as well as evaluating the response after adequate suppletion. Individual QoL scores (both generic and disease-specific) and psychopathology scores (depressive symptoms and anxiety) will be used as secondary outcomes.