Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Acromegaly is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated with cardiovascular disease, lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease and heart failure. Data on the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and peripheral arterial disease in patients with acromegaly is still limited. The aim of this study was to compare serum homocysteine levels between acromegaly patients with active disease and remission, and to evaluate presence of peripheral arterial disease.

Material and Method: A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with acromegaly. Patients were compared with respect to their serum homocysteine levels, clinical and metabolic parameters, and ankle brachial index (ABI). Patients who had folate, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 deficiency; chronic kidney disease; using drugs that change homocysteine levels were not included in the study.

Results: A total of 31 patients (19 female/12 male), diagnosed with acromegaly were recruited for this study. Patients were divided into two groups: active disease (group 1, n=18) and remission (group 2, n=13). Fasting blood glucose level were higher in group 1 than group 2 (111±22.3 vs. 93±10,9 mg/dl, respectively, P=0.01). Only one patient had low ABI whose homocysteine level was normal. ABI were similar between the active disease and remission groups. Homocysteine levels were high in 12 (37.5%) patients (6 in group 1 and 6 in group 2) and body mass index was higher in pateints with elevated homocysteine levels (29.6±3.8 vs. 26.8±3.7, P=0.04). Although ABI were not correlated with homocystein levels, especially systolic blood pressure in both posterior tibial arteries were low (P=0,048).

Conclusion: This study revealed that high homocysteine levels are associated with increased body mass index. Since acromegaly patients more prone to risk of cardiovascular disease, it is important to examine all possible risk factors in these patients.