Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Acromegaly is a rare condition associated with increased secretion of growth hormone (GH), most frequently from a pituitary adenoma. Gender can influence the secretion of growth hormone and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Healthy females appear to have higher spontaneous GH levels. In comparison, active acromegaly is associated with lower IGF-1 levels, possibly due to the inhibitory influence of circulating estrogen on the hepatic production of IGF-1.

Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate gender-specific differences in patients diagnosed with acromegaly.

Material and Method: The study group included 23 acromegalic patients, aged between 20 and 72 years, 9 men (39.13%) and 14 women (60.85%). The mean age at diagnosis was 55 for females and 43.5 years for males. Data was collected retrospectively, including personal history, clinical examination, laboratory assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging results.

Results: In our cohort of patients, the female sex was predominant. Women were older than men at diagnosis (P<0.05) and had a longer estimated disease duration, an aspect that was not statistically significant. The duration of the disease was comparable between groups. GH and IGF-1 were similar between groups, as well as the size of the adenoma. Disease control was achieved in 78% of male and 71% of female patients. The prevalence of pituitary insufficiency was similar between groups. Hypertension was more frequent among women, while obesity and sleep apnea were diagnosed predominantly in men, but without statistical significance. Diabetes mellitus and malignancies were present only in women, but probably due to the small sample size, the results did not reach significance.

Conclusions: Disease control, GH, IGF-1, and disease duration were similar between females and males. Women were older at diagnosis and were more prone to develop DM and malignancies. Men were diagnosed more frequently with sleep apnea, these results are consistent with the fact that they were also more prone to developing obesity.

Keywords: Acromegaly, Pituitary, Gender, Comorbidities