Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare disease characterized by somatotropic hypersecretion. The disease is associated with multiple significant comorbidities and increased mortality. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, para-clinical and therapeutic features of Acromegaly disease.

Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 12 patients with acromegaly in the Endocrinology Diabetology Department of Oujda’s Mohammed VI University Hospital, MOROCCO.

Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 55 years with a female predominance. The median diagnosis delay was 8 years. Acrofacial dysmorphic syndrome was the most frequent mode of revelation. Pituitary adenoma was the etiology in all cases: macroadenoma in 11 patients and microadenoma in one patient. All our patients had complications at the moment of diagnosis: ante--pituitary insufficiency in 100% of cases, ophthalmological disorders in 75%, cardiorespiratory complications in 60%, diabetes mellitus was found in 58% and dyslipidemia in 25% of cases. All our patients had goiter. Colic polyps were observed in 41.6%, bone deformities in 50% and arthralgia in 50%. 75% of patients underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Surgery reduced the level of IGF1 by 41% and the size of the pituitary adenoma by 33%. 83.3% have been treated by somatostatin analogs SSAs (Lanreotide LP 120 mg), given before surgery in 4 cases with non-invasive adenoma and in 5 cases as a second line therapy after incomplete tumor resection associated to radiotherapy (25%). Treatment with SSAs has allowed IGF1 to be normalized in 62.5% of cases.

Conclusion: Acromegaly is a serious condition, associated with multiple comorbidities and increased mortality. Early identification of the signs and symptoms of the disease by health care professionals knowledgeable about acromegaly may help to mitigate this delay. Treatment can then be initiated promptly, with the potential to reduce mortality. Its management should be discussed among multidisciplinary meetings.