Health-related quality of life in pituitary diseases

Arginine vasopressin deficiency: diagnosis, management and the relevance of oxytocin deficiency

Polyuria-polydipsia syndrome can be caused by central diabetes insipidus, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus or primary polydipsia. To avoid confusion with diabetes mellitus, the name 'central diabetes insipidus' was changed in 2022 to arginine vasopressin (AVP) deficiency and 'nephrogenic diabetes insipidus' was renamed as AVP resistance. To differentiate the three entities, various osmotic and non-osmotic copeptin-based stimulation tests have been introduced in the past decade. The hypertonic saline test plus plasma copeptin measurement emerged as the test with highest diagnostic accuracy, replacing the water deprivation test as the gold standard in differential diagnosis of the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome. The mainstay of treatment for AVP deficiency is AVP replacement with desmopressin, a synthetic analogue of AVP specific for AVP receptor 2 (AVPR2), which usually leads to rapid improvements in polyuria and polydipsia. The main adverse effect of desmopressin is dilutional hyponatraemia, which can be reduced by regularly performing the so-called desmopressin escape method. Evidence from the past few years suggests an additional oxytocin deficiency in patients with AVP deficiency. This potential deficiency should be further evaluated in future studies, including feasible provocation tests for clinical practice and interventional trials with oxytocin substitution.

Neuroendocrine Parathyroid Tumors: Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Tumors of the parathyroid glands, when associated with PTH (parathyroid hormone) excess, display a large area of complications; in addition to the classical clinical picture of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP), a complex panel of other symptoms/signs can be identified, including memory and cognitive impairment, chronic asthenia/fatigue, reduced muscle functionality, depressive mood, non-specific bone pain, and loss of sleep quality. The perception of quality of life (QoL) can be supplementarily enhanced by their progressive onset, which makes many patients not be fully aware of them. Their improvement was reported very early after parathyroidectomy (PTx), yet the level of statistical evidence does not qualify these non-classical elements as standalone indications for PTx. Our objective is introducing an up-to-date on QoL scores with regards to the patients diagnosed with PHP, particularly taking into consideration PHP management from baseline to post-operatory outcome, including in cases with multiple endocrine neoplasia. This is a narrative review of literature. We revised full-length papers published in English through PubMed research conducted between January 2018 and May 2023 by using the key words "quality of life" and "primary hyperparathyroidism". We particularly looked at data on self-reported QoL (through questionnaires). We excluded from the search the studies focused on non-PTH related hypercalcemia, secondary, and/or renal/tertiary hyperparathyroidism, and vitamin D supplementation. Overall, we identified 76 papers and selected for the final analysis 16 original studies on QoL and PHP (a total of 1327 subjects diagnosed with syndromic and non-syndromic PHP). The studies with the largest number of individuals were of 92, 104, 110, 134, 159, as well as 191. A few cohorts (n = 5) were of small size (between 20 and 40 patients in each of them). Concerning the study design, except for 2 papers, all the mentioned studies provided longitudinal information, particularly the timeframe from baseline (before PTx) and after surgery. The post-operatory follow-up was of 3-6 months, but mostly between 1 and 3 years (maximum a decade of surveillance). The age of the patients varies between medians of 56, 62, 64, and 68 years. Most frequent questionnaires were SF-36, PHPQoL, and PAS. Despite not being unanimously similar, an overall reduced score of QoL in patients with PHP versus controls was registered, as well as general improvement following PTx. Variations of QoL results might have a multifactorial background from different comorbidities, studied populations, technical aspects of collecting the data, etc. QoL scores in PHP represents a complex heterogeneous picture, from their correlation with clinical features and lab assays (e.g., the level of serum calcium), the associated comorbidities (such as multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes), up to the assessment of the QoL improvement after parathyroidectomy (PTx). While current studies do not unanimously agree on each QoL domain, the assessment of QoL might represent a supplementary argument to consider when deciding for PTx, especially in asymptomatic cases and in patients who do not fit into well-known categories of surgery candidates, according to current guidelines, thus assessing QoL in PHP is part of a current research gap. QoL evaluation in PHP remains an open issue, towards which awareness should be cultivated by both endocrinologists and surgeons. The introduction of a routine evaluation of the QoL scores in patients, as well as the selection of the most appropriate questionnaire(s), represents an open chapter thus awareness in mandatory.

Reduced Health Related Quality of Life, Increased Fatigue, and Daytime Sleepiness in Women with Hyperprolactinemia

Prolactin has many physiological effects and seems to be involved in the human quality of life and well-being. The aim of this study was to describe health related quality of life, fatigue and daytime sleepiness in women with untreated hyperprolactinemia. In total 32 women (mean age 37.0±10.9 years) with verified hyperprolactinemia completed a questionnaire including questions on fatigue, measured with the Swedish version of the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), propensity to fall in sleep, measured with the Swedish version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Health related quality of life (HRQoL), measured by the Short-Form-36 scale (SF-36). For comparison Swedish normative data were used. The women were also interviewed regarding different symptoms related to hyperprolactinemia and the answers were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. HRQoL, as measured with SF-36, was significantly lower in all dimensions, except in physical function, compared to the Swedish reference population. Total FIS was 54.3 (41.1) and mean score on the ESS was 8.7 (4.2) indicating increased fatigue and deterioration in night sleep. The women felt very tired, and several of them rarely felt rested in the morning. The restless night sleep and the fatigue during the daytime got them to feel feeble and sometimes to find it difficult to concentrate, which affected both their mood and life in general. Women diagnosed with hyperprolactinemia reported deterioration in night sleep, increased rate of fatigue, and a reduced health related quality of life in comparison with the reference population.

Approach of Acromegaly during Pregnancy

Acromegaly-related sub/infertility, tidily related to suboptimal disease control (1/2 of cases), correlates with hyperprolactinemia (1/3 of patients), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism—mostly affecting the pituitary axis in hypopituitarism (10−80%), and negative effects of glucose profile (GP) anomalies (10−70%); thus, pregnancy is an exceptional event. Placental GH (Growth Hormone) increases from weeks 5−15 with a peak at week 37, stimulating liver IGF1 and inhibiting pituitary GH secreted by normal hypophysis, not by somatotropinoma. However, estrogens induce a GH resistance status, protecting the fetus form GH excess; thus a full-term, healthy pregnancy may be possible. This is a narrative review of acromegaly that approaches cardio-metabolic features (CMFs), somatotropinoma expansion (STE), management adjustment (MNA) and maternal-fetal outcomes (MFOs) during pregnancy. Based on our method (original, in extenso, English—published articles on PubMed, between January 2012 and September 2022), we identified 24 original papers—13 studies (3 to 141 acromegalic pregnancies per study), and 11 single cases reports (a total of 344 pregnancies and an additional prior unpublished report). With respect to maternal acromegaly, pregnancies are spontaneous or due to therapy for infertility (clomiphene, gonadotropins or GnRH) and, lately, assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs); there are no consistent data on pregnancies with paternal acromegaly. CMFs are the most important complications (7.7−50%), especially concerning worsening of HBP (including pre/eclampsia) and GP anomalies, including gestational diabetes mellitus (DM); the best predictor is the level of disease control at conception (IGF1), and, probably, family history of 2DM, and body mass index. STE occurs rarely (a rate of 0 to 9%); some of it symptoms are headache and visual field anomalies; it is treated with somatostatin analogues (SSAs) or alternatively dopamine agonists (DAs); lately, second trimester selective hypophysectomy has been used less, since pharmaco-therapy (PT) has proven safe. MNA: PT that, theoretically, needs to be stopped before conception—continued if there was STE or an inoperable tumor (no clear period of exposure, preferably, only first trimester). Most data are on octreotide > lanreotide, followed by DAs and pegvisomant, and there are none on pasireotide. Further follow-up is required: a prompt postpartum re-assessment of the mother’s disease; we only have a few data confirming the safety of SSAs during lactation and long-term normal growth and developmental of the newborn (a maximum of 15 years). MFO seem similar between PT + ve and PT − ve, regardless of PT duration; the additional risk is actually due to CMF. One study showed a 2-year median between hypophysectomy and pregnancy. Conclusion: Close surveillance of disease burden is required, particularly, concerning CMF; a personalized approach is useful; the level of statistical evidence is expected to expand due to recent progress in MNA and ART.

Central diabetes insipidus from a patient's perspective: management, psychological co-morbidities, and renaming of the condition: results from an international web-based survey

BACKGROUND

Central diabetes insipidus is a rare neuroendocrine condition. Data on treatment-associated side-effects, psychological comorbidities, and incorrect management are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate patients' perspectives on their disease.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional, web-based, anonymous survey, developed by endocrinologists and patient representatives, to collect the opinions of patients with central diabetes insipidus on management and complications of their disease, psychological comorbidities, degree of knowledge and awareness of the condition among health-care professionals, and renaming the disease to avoid confusion with diabetes mellitus (diabetes).

FINDINGS

Between Aug 23, 2021, and Feb 7, 2022, 1034 patients with central diabetes insipidus participated in the survey. 91 (9%) participants were children and adolescents (37 [41%] girls and 54 [59%] boys; median age 10 years [IQR 6-15]) and 943 (91%) were adults (757 [80%] women and 186 [20%] men]; median age 44 years [34-54]). 488 (47%) participants had isolated posterior pituitary dysfunction and 546 (53%) had combined anterior and posterior pituitary dysfunction. Main aetiologies were idiopathic (315 [30%] of 1034 participants) and tumours and cysts (pre-surgical 217 [21%]; post-surgical 254 [25%]). 260 (26%; 95% CI [0·23-0·29]) of 994 patients on desmopressin therapy had hyponatraemia leading to hospitalisation. Patients who routinely omitted or delayed desmopressin to allow intermittent aquaresis had a significantly lower prevalence of hyponatraemia compared with those not aware of this approach (odds ratio 0·55 [95% CI 0·39-0·77]; p=0·0006). Of patients who had to be hospitalised for any medical reason, 71 (13%; 95% CI 0·10-0·16) of 535 patients did not receive desmopressin while in a fasting state (nil by mouth) without intravenous fluid replacement and reported symptoms of dehydration. 660 (64%; 0·61-0·67) participants reported lower quality of life, and 369 (36%; 0·33-0·39) had psychological changes subjectively associated with their central diabetes insipidus. 823 (80%; 0·77-0·82) participants encountered a situation where central diabetes insipidus was confused with diabetes mellitus (diabetes) by health-care professionals. 884 (85%; 0·83-0·88) participants supported renaming the disease; the most favoured alternative names were vasopressin deficiency and arginine vasopressin deficiency.

INTERPRETATION

This is the largest survey of patients with central diabetes insipidus, reporting a high prevalence of treatment-associated side-effects, mismanagement during hospitalisation, psychological comorbidities, and a clear support for renaming the disease. Our data are the first to indicate the value of routinely omitting or delaying desmopressin.

FUNDING

Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, and G&J Bangerter-Rhyner-Foundation.

Hidden disability: a study of the psychosocial impact of living with pituitary conditions

BACKGROUND

Pituitary patients often experience psychosocial symptoms associated with their condition.

AIMS

To explore the condition management experiences of pituitary patients and their psychosocial symptoms and to explore the impact of these on quality of life.

METHODS

A sample of 748 individuals aged 18 to more than 65 years) completed a questionnaire relating to quality of life and the psychosocial impact of pituitary conditions.

FINDINGS

Analysis of the qualitative sections using content analysis identified four themes: social isolation, emotional and behavioural issues, appearance distress and physical and cognitive effects including fatigue and pain. An overarching theme of hidden disability emerged.

CONCLUSION

The study identified multiple biopsychosocial factors that impact quality of life, with symptoms not visible to others most likely to impact negatively. Nurses are well placed to provide support and information to patients about the possible psychosocial impact of pituitary conditions to enable positive adjustment.

Multidimensional geriatric evaluation in acromegaly: a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Improvement in acromegaly management increased disease survival and prevalence. Evidence regarding acromegaly in older adults are sparse. We aim to explore acromegaly impact on aging process quality.

METHODS

Multicenter case-control study conducted on 42 older adults (≥ 65 years) acromegaly patients (ACRO) compared to an age- and gender-matched control group (CTR). Each participant underwent a multidimensional geriatric evaluation.

RESULTS

Mean age in both groups was 73 ± 6 years and female gender was most represented (69%). All comorbidities were more frequent in ACRO than CTR. Thirteen ACRO were in remission and 29 had active disease controlled by medical therapy except for one patient. ACRO showed worse physical performance and mobility skills worsening with age as compared to CTR. ACRO performed poorly in functional status assessment, and age negatively correlated with instrumental and basic daily activities execution. Cognitive evaluation scores were significantly lower in ACRO vs. CTR, worsening with age. No difference was found concerning nutritional and psychological status. Musculoskeletal and bone diseases were more frequent in ACRO than in CTR (52% vs. 12%; 64% vs. 10%; P < 0.05) and independently associated with geriatric outcomes in ACRO. ACRO reported a less satisfactory quality of life concerning physical activity and pain, general health, vitality, social activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates increased frailty of older acromegaly patients as compared to non-acromegaly patients with a consequent negative impact on their quality of life. Therefore, it seems advisable to include physical, functional, cognitive, nutritional, and psychological status assessments in routine clinical practice. Further studies are needed to identify the most appropriate geriatric tools.

Towards a greater understanding of the psychosocial impact of the symptoms of pituitary conditions

Management of pituitary conditions can be problematic with many patients experiencing long-term psychological and social difficulties that impact on their quality of life. This study aimed to identify psychosocial symptoms associated with pituitary conditions that lead to poor quality of life and identify differences in symptomatology between patient groups. A survey using measures of psychological and social symptoms was sent to 2000 members of the Pituitary Foundation in January 2016. The survey was completed by 1062 patients (683 female), aged under 18 to over 65 years, using categorical age ranges. Physical and psychosocial symptoms including appearance issues, fatigue, anxiety and depression were reported. Using correlational and regression analyses, significant variation in symptoms were identified across gender, age range and condition type that were impairing patients' long-term functioning and impacting quality of life. There is a need for greater patient information and advice surrounding psychosocial symptoms of pituitary conditions.

Body self-image disturbances in women with prolactinoma

Objective:

To evaluate body dissatisfaction and distorted body self-image in women with prolactinoma.

Methods:

Body dissatisfaction and distorted body self-image were evaluated in 80 women with prolactinoma. All patients were in menacme, 34% had normal body mass index (BMI), and 66% were overweight. Most patients (56.2%) had normal prolactin (PRL) levels and no hyperprolactinemia symptoms (52.5%). The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) was used to assess the patients’ dissatisfaction with and concern about their physical form, and the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS) was used to assess body dissatisfaction and distorted body self-image. The patients were divided according to PRL level (normal vs. elevated) and the presence or absence of prolactinoma symptoms.

Results:

The normal and elevated PRL groups had similar incidences of body dissatisfaction and distorted body self-image. However, symptomatic patients reported a higher incidence of dissatisfaction than asymptomatic patients. Distorted body self-image was less common among symptomatic patients.

Conclusion:

Symptomatic patients showed higher body dissatisfaction, but lower body self-image distortion. The presence of symptoms may have been responsible for increased body awareness. The perception of body shape could have triggered feelings of dissatisfaction compared to an ideal lean body. Therefore, a distorted body self-image might not necessarily result in body dissatisfaction in women with prolactinomas.

Cabergoline Withdrawal Before and After Menopause: Outcomes in Microprolactinomas

Natural course of prolactinomas after menopause is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare recurrence rate after cabergoline withdrawal in premenopausal vs. postmenopausal women with microprolactinoma. Sixty-two women with microprolactinoma treated with cabergoline for at least 1 year and followed for 2 years after drug withdrawal were retrospectively selected. Patients were divided into two groups: 48 patients stopped cabergoline before menopause ("PRE" group), while 14 after menopause ("POST" group). Recurrence was defined by prolactin levels above normal, confirmed on two occasions. Overall, 39/62 women relapsed. Patients who relapsed apparently had higher prolactin before withdrawal (median 216.2, range 21.2-464.3 mIU/L) compared with those in long-term remission (94.3, 29.7-402.8 mIU/L; p < 0.05), and the risk of recurrence seemed lower in POST women (4/14, 29%) than in PRE ones (35/48, 73%, p < 0.005, OR 0.149, 95% CI 0.040-0.558). However, none of the factors (prolactin before withdrawal, menopausal status, treatment duration, complete adenoma regression) showed a correlation with recurrence risk in multivariate analysis. The best strategy able to optimize CBG treatment and withdrawal's outcomes is still to be defined in microprolactinomas. Postmenopausal status cannot reliably predict long-term remission, and follow-up is needed also in women of this age.

Prolactinoma through the female life cycle

Prolactinomas are the most common secretory pituitary adenoma. They typically occur in women in the 3rd-6th decade of life and rarely in the pediatric population or after menopause. Most women present with irregular menses and/or infertility. Dopamine (DA) agonists, used in their treatment, are safe during pregnancy, but in most cases are discontinued at conception with close monitoring for signs or symptoms of tumor growth. Breastfeeding is safe postpartum, provided there was no significant growth during pregnancy. Some women will experience normalization of prolactin levels postpartum. Menopause may also decrease prolactin levels and even those with macroprolactinomas may consider discontinuing their DA agonist with close follow-up. Prolactinomas may be associated with decreased quality of life scores in women, and play a role in bone health and cardiovascular risk factors. This review discusses the current literature and clinical understanding of prolactinomas throughout the entirety of the female life cycle.

Adult Craniopharyngioma: Case Series, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal therapeutic approach for adult craniopharyngioma remains controversial. Some advocate for gross total resection (GTR), while others advocate for subtotal resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (STR + XRT).

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the rate of recurrence in the follow-up of 3 yr in adult craniopharyngioma stratified by extent of resection and presence of adjuvant radiotherapy.

METHODS

MEDLINE (1946-July 1, 2016) and EMBASE (1980-June 30, 2016) were systematically reviewed. From1975 to 2013, 33 patients were treated with initial surgical resection for adult onset craniopharyngioma at our center and were reviewed for inclusion in this study.

RESULTS

Data from 22 patients were available for inclusion as a case series in the systematic review. Eligible studies (n = 21) were identified from the literature in addition to a case series of our institutional experience. Three groups were available for analysis: GTR, STR + XRT, and STR. The rates of recurrence were 17%, 27%, and 45%, respectively. The risk of developing recurrence was significant for GTR vs STR (odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15-0.38) and STR + XRT vs STR (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10-0.41). Risk of recurrence after GTR vs STR + XRT did not reach significance (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.33-1.24, P = .18).

CONCLUSION

This is the first and largest systematic review focusing on the rate of recurrence in adult craniopharyngioma. Although the rates of recurrence are favoring GTR, difference in risk of recurrence did not reach significance. This study provides guidance to clinicians and directions for future research with the need to stratify outcomes per treatment modalities.

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Risk of overtreatment in patients with adrenal insufficiency: current and emerging aspects

The effects of long-term replacement therapy of adrenal insufficiency (AI) are still a matter of controversy. In fact, the established glucocorticoid replacement regimens do not completely reproduce the endogenous hormonal production and the monitoring of AI treatment may be a challenge for the lack of reliable clinical and biochemical markers. Consequently, several AI patients are frequently exposed to relative glucocorticoid excess potentially leading to develop chronic complications, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension and fragility fractures with consequent impaired QoL and increased mortality risk. This review deals with the pathophysiological and clinical aspects concerning the over-replacement therapy of primary and secondary AI.

New outlook on the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of childhood-onset craniopharyngioma

Childhood-onset craniopharyngiomas are rare embryonic tumours of low-grade histological malignancy. Novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of human adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma have started to unveil the possibility of testing novel treatments targeting pathogenic pathways. Hypothalamic involvement and/or treatment-related lesions result in impaired physical and social functionality and in severe neuroendocrine sequelae. Quality of survival in patients with craniopharyngioma with hypothalamic involvement is impaired by severe obesity, physical fatigue and non-optimal psychosocial development. Patients with craniopharyngioma involving hypothalamic structures have reduced 20-year overall survival, but overall and progression-free survival are not related to the degree of surgical resection. Irradiation is effective in the prevention of tumour progression and recurrence. For favourably localized craniopharyngiomas, the preferred treatment of choice is to attempt complete resection with preservation of visual, hypothalamic and pituitary function. For unfavourably localized tumours in close proximity to optic and/or hypothalamic structures, a radical neurosurgical strategy attempting complete resection is not recommended owing to potential severe sequelae. As expertise has been shown to have an impact on post-treatment morbidity, medical societies should establish criteria for adequate professional expertise for the treatment of craniopharyngioma. On the basis of these criteria, health authorities should organize the certification of centres of excellence that are authorized to treat and care for patients with this chronic disease.

Risk-adapted, long-term management in childhood-onset craniopharyngioma

PURPOSE

This report is a review of findings on the diagnosis, treatment, clinical course, follow-up, and prognosis of craniopharyngioma patients with special regard to clinical trials and long-term management.

METHODS

Literature search on Pubmed for paper published after 1994.

RESULTS

Craniopharyngiomas are rare, embryonic malformations of the sellar/parasellar region with low histological grade. Clinical manifestations are related to increased intracranial pressure, visual impairment, and hypothalamic/pituitary deficiencies. If the tumor is favorably localized, therapy of choice is complete resection, with care taken to preserve hypothalamic and optic functions. In patients with unfavorable tumor location (i.e. involvement of hypothalamic areas), recommended therapy is limited hypothalamus-sparing surgical strategy followed by irradiation. Irradiation has proven effective in treatment of recurrences and progression. Surgical lesions and/or anatomical involvement of posterior hypothalamic areas can result in serious sequelae, mainly hypothalamic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

It is crucial that craniopharyngioma be managed as a frequently chronic disease, providing ongoing care of pediatric and adult patients' by experienced multidisciplinary teams in the context of multicenter trials.

Sheehan syndrome

Sheehan syndrome or postpartum hypopituitarism is a condition characterized by hypopituitarism due to necrosis of the pituitary gland. The initial insult is caused by massive postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), leading to impaired blood supply to the pituitary gland, which has become enlarged during pregnancy. Small sella turcica size, vasospasms (caused by PPH) and/or thrombosis (associated with pregnancy or coagulation disorders) are predisposing factors; autoimmunity might be involved in the progressive worsening of pituitary functions. Symptoms are caused by a decrease or absence of one or more of the pituitary hormones, and vary, among others, from failure to lactate and nonspecific symptoms (such as fatigue) to severe adrenal crisis. In accordance with the location of hormone-secreting cells relative to the vasculature, the secretion of growth hormone and prolactin is most commonly affected, followed by follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone; severe necrosis of the pituitary gland also affects the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone. Symptoms usually become evident years after delivery, but can, in rare cases, develop acutely. The incidence of Sheehan syndrome depends, to a large extent, on the occurrence and management of PPH. Sheehan syndrome is an important cause of hypopituitarism in developing countries, but has become rare in developed countries. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations combined with a history of severe PPH; hormone levels and/or stimulation tests can confirm clinical suspicion. Hormone replacement therapy is the only available management option so far.

PREDICTORS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN 165 PATIENTS WITH ACROMEGALY: RESULTS FROM A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY

OBJECTIVE

Even if treated, acromegaly has a considerable impact on patient quality of life (QoL); despite this, the exact clinical determinants of QoL in acromegaly are unknown. This study retrospectively examines a cohort of treated patients with acromegaly, with the aim of identifying these determinants.

METHODS

Retrospective survey analysis, with 165 patients included in the study. All patients completed a survey, which included demographic data and the clinical details of their disease, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the revised Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Bern Embitterment Inventory (BEI). Stepwise regression was used to identify predictors of QoL.

RESULTS

The strongest predictors of the physical component score of the SF-36 were (in order of declining strength of association): Delay between first presentation of the disease and diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), number of doctors visited before the diagnosis of acromegaly, and age at diagnosis. For the mental component score, the strongest predictors were: number of doctors visited, previous radiotherapy, and age at study entry; and, for the BDI-II score: number of doctors visited, previous radiotherapy, age at study entry, and employment status at the time of diagnosis. The following were predictors of the BEI score: number of doctors visited, and age at study entry.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic delay and lack of diagnostic acumen in medical care provision are strong predictors of poor QoL in patients with acromegaly. Other identified parameters are radiotherapy, age, BMI, and employment status. An efficient acromegaly service should address these aspects when devising disease management plans.

ABBREVIATIONS

BDI-II = Beck Depression Inventory II BEI = Bern Embitterment Inventory BMI = body mass index IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1 MCS = mental component summary (score) PCS = physical component summary (score) QoL = quality of life SDS = standard deviation score SF-36 = Short Form-36 Health Survey.

Craniopharyngioma and hypothalamic injury: latest insights into consequent eating disorders and obesity

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypothalamic alterations, pathological or treatment induced, have major impact on prognosis in craniopharyngioma patients mainly because of consequent hypothalamic obesity. Recent insight in molecular genetics, treatment strategies, risk factors and outcomes associated with hypothalamic obesity provide novel therapeutic perspectives. This review includes relevant publications since 2013.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent findings confirm that alterations in posterior hypothalamic areas because of tumour location and/or treatment-related injuries are associated with severe hypothalamic obesity, reduced overall survival and impaired quality of life in long-term survivors of childhood-onset craniopharyngioma. However, eating disorders are observed because of hypothalamic obesity without clear disease-specific patterns. Treatment options for hypothalamic obesity are very limited. Treatment with invasive, nonreversible bariatric methods such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is most efficient in weight reduction, but controversial in the paediatric population because of medical, ethical, and legal considerations. Accordingly, treatment in craniopharyngioma should focus on prevention of (further) hypothalamic injury. Presurgical imaging for grading of hypothalamic involvement should be the basis for hypothalamus-sparing strategies conducted by experienced multidisciplinary teams.

SUMMARY

Until a nonsurgical therapeutic option for hypothalamic obesity for paediatric patients is found, prevention of hypothalamic injury should be the preferred treatment strategy, conducted exclusively by experienced multidisciplinary teams.

The quality of life in acromegalic patients with biochemical remission by surgery alone is superior to that in those with pharmaceutical therapy without radiotherapy, using the newly developed Japanese version of the AcroQoL

PURPOSE

To develop a Japanese version of the acromegaly quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (AcroQoL) and investigate the factors associated with impaired QoL in patients with acromegaly.

METHODS

We developed a Japanese version of the AcroQoL by a forward-backward method and evaluated QoL in 38 patients with acromegaly who had been followed up at an outpatient clinic at Kobe University Hospital. Its reliability was examined with Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlations. Second examination was performed for concurrent validity by assessment of correlations with the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and longitudinal analysis of the AcroQoL in 25 patients.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlations showed a range of 0.76-0.93 and 0.20-0.84, respectively, and significant correlations were found between the AcroQoL and the SF-36. Younger age and a history of radiotherapy were associated with worse total score by the multivariate linear regression analysis (p = 0.020 and p = 0.042, respectively). Intriguingly, in the biochemically-controlled group after the exclusion of patients who received radiotherapy, patients who underwent surgery alone exhibited a higher psychological (75.0 vs. 65.7 %, p = 0.036) and appearance (64.3 vs. 53.6 %, p = 0.036) score than those who are treating with pharmaceutical therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The reliability of the Japanese version of the AcroQoL was satisfactory. Younger age and a history of radiotherapy were associated with lower QoL in patients with acromegaly. In biochemically-controlled acromegaly, patients who underwent surgery alone exhibited better QoL than those under pharmaceutical therapy.