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Paragliola RM, Carrozza C, Corsello SM, Salvatori R. The biochemical diagnosis of acromegaly: revising the role of measurement of IGF-I and GH after glucose load in 5 questions. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2022; 17:205-224. [PMID: 35485763 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2022.2069558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acromegaly is a rare disorder characterized by the excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH), mostly caused by pituitary adenomas. While in full-blown cases the diagnosis is easy to establish, milder cases are more challenging. Additionally, establishing whether full cure after surgery is reached may be difficult. AREAS COVERED In this article, we will review the challenges posed by the variability in measurements of GH and its main effector insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) due to both biological changes, co-morbidities, and assays variability. EXPERT OPINION Interpretation of GH and IGF-I assays is important in establishing an early diagnosis of acromegaly, in avoiding misdiagnosis, and in establishing if cure is achieved by surgery. Physicians should be familiar with the variables that affect measurements of these 2 hormones, and with the performance of the assays available in their practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Maria Paragliola
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery - Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Carrozza
- Unit of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli," IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore M Corsello
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery - Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- UniCamillus-Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Salvatori
- Division of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism and Pituitary Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, USA
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Okawa MC, Cochran E, Lightbourne M, Brown RJ. Long-Term Effects of Metreleptin in Rabson-Mendenhall Syndrome on Glycemia, Growth, and Kidney Function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e1032-e1046. [PMID: 34718628 PMCID: PMC8852213 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the insulin receptor gene (INSR) leading to insulin-resistant diabetes, microvascular complications, and growth hormone resistance with short stature. Small, uncontrolled studies suggest that 1-year treatment with recombinant leptin (metreleptin) improves glycemia in RMS. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine effects of long-term metreleptin in RMS on glycemia, anthropometrics, the growth hormone axis, and kidney function. METHODS We compared RMS patients during nonrandomized open-label treatment with metreleptin (≥ 0.15 mg/kg/day) vs no metreleptin over 90 months (5 subjects in both groups at different times, 4 only in metreleptin group, 2 only in control group). Main outcome measures were A1c; glucose; insulin; 24-hour urine glucose; standard deviation scores (SDS) for height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1); growth hormone; and estimated glomerular filtration rate. RESULTS Over time, metreleptin-treated subjects maintained 1.8 percentage point lower A1c vs controls (P = 0.007), which remained significant after accounting for changes in insulin doses. Metreleptin-treated subjects had a reduction in BMI SDS, which predicted decreased A1c. Growth hormone increased after metreleptin treatment vs control, with no difference in SDS between groups for IGF-1 or height. Reduced BMI predicted higher growth hormone, while reduced A1c predicted higher IGF-1. CONCLUSION Metreleptin alters the natural history of rising A1c in RMS, leading to lower A1c throughout long-term follow-up. Improved glycemia with metreleptin is likely attributable to appetite suppression and lower BMI SDS. Lower BMI after metreleptin may also worsen growth hormone resistance in RMS, resulting in a null effect on IGF-1 and growth despite improved glycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinna C Okawa
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Elaine Cochran
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marissa Lightbourne
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rebecca J Brown
- Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Correspondence: Rebecca J. Brown, MD, MHSc, Building 10-CRC, Room 6-5942, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Dobri G, Niwattisaiwong S, Bena JF, Gupta M, Kirwan J, Kennedy L, Hamrahian AH. Is GH nadir during OGTT a reliable test for diagnosis of acromegaly in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism? Endocrine 2019; 64:139-146. [PMID: 30415402 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-018-1805-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The growth hormone (GH) nadir during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the gold standard diagnostic test for acromegaly. The utility of OGTT-GH suppression test in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) has not been well established. In this study, we compared the GH nadir during OGTT in patients evaluated for acromegaly in the presence and absence of AGM. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with acromegaly (G1, n = 40) and a group in whom acromegaly was not confirmed (G2, n = 53) who had OGTT-GH suppression test during 2000-2012, using a monoclonal GH immunoenzymatic assay. The patients were categorized as having normal glucose metabolism (NGM) or AGM. GH nadir during OGTT in each group were compared. RESULTS In G1 and G2, 17 and 19 patients had AGM, respectively. Among 17 patients with diabetes, median HbA1C was 7% (range 5.7-9.6%). All except one patient had HbA1C< 8%. There was no difference in the GH nadir in patients with or without AGM within G1 (p = 0.15) and G2 (p = 0.43). All G1 patients with AGM had GH nadir > 0.4 µg/L. Four G1 patients with NGM had GH nadir<0.4 µg/L. All G2 patients had GH nadir < 0.4 µg/L, except one with NGM and GH nadir of 0.4 µg/L. CONCLUSION Using highly sensitive GH assay, a GH nadir ≥ 0.4 µg/L during the OGTT-GH suppression test may be used for diagnosis of acromegaly in patients with AGM in the absence of poorly controlled diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana Dobri
- Department of Neurosurgery Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | | | - James F Bena
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Manjula Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - John Kirwan
- Department of Integrated Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808, USA
| | - Lawrence Kennedy
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Amir H Hamrahian
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
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Hage M, Kamenický P, Chanson P. Growth Hormone Response to Oral Glucose Load: From Normal to Pathological Conditions. Neuroendocrinology 2019; 108:244-255. [PMID: 30685760 DOI: 10.1159/000497214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The exact physiological basis of acute growth hormone (GH) suppression by oral glucose is not fully understood. Glucose-mediated increase in hypothalamic somatostatin seems to be the most plausible explanation. Attempts to better understand its underlying mechanisms are compromised by species disparities in the response of GH to glucose load. While in humans, glucose inhibits GH release, the acute elevation of circulating glucose levels in rats has either no effect on GH secretion or may be stimulatory. Likewise, chronic hyperglycemia alters GH release in both humans and rats nonetheless in opposite directions. Several factors influence nadir GH concentrations including, age, gender, body mass index, pubertal age, and the type of assay used. Besides the classical suppressive effects of glucose on GH release, a paradoxical GH increase to oral glucose may be observed in around one third of patients with acromegaly as well as in various other disorders. Though its pathophysiology is poorly characterized, an altered interplay between somatostatin and GH-releasing hormone has been suggested and a link with pituitary ectopic expression of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor has been recently demonstrated. A better understanding of the dynamics mediating GH response to glucose may allow a more optimal use of the OGTT as a diagnostic tool in various conditions, especially acromegaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Hage
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares de l'Hypophyse, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U1185, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Peter Kamenický
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares de l'Hypophyse, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U1185, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Philippe Chanson
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares de l'Hypophyse, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) U1185, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France,
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Abstract
Measurements of human growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth-factor I (IGF-I) are cornerstones in the diagnosis of acromegaly. Both hormones are also used as biochemical markers in the evaluation of disease activity during treatment. Management of acromegaly is particularly challenging in cases where discordant information is obtained from measurement of GH concentrations following oral glucose load and from measurement of IGF-I. While in some patients biological factors can explain the discrepancy, in many cases issues with the analytical methods seem to be responsible. Assays used by endocrine laboratories to determine concentrations of GH and IGF-I underwent significant changes during the last decades. While generally leading to more sensitive and reproducible methods, these changes also had considerable impact on absolute concentrations measured. This must be reflected by updated decision limits, cut-offs and reference intervals. Since different commercially available assays do not agree very well, method specific interpretation of GH and IGF-I concentrations is required. This complexity in the interpretation of hormone concentrations is not always appropriately reflected in laboratory reports, but also not in clinical guidelines reporting decision limits not related to a specific analytical method. The present review provides an overview about methodological and biological variables affecting the biochemical assessment of acromegaly in diagnosis and follow up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schilbach
- Clinical Endocrinology and Endocrine Laboratory, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian J Strasburger
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Bidlingmaier
- Endocrine Laboratory, Endocrine Research Unit, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336, Munich, Germany.
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Cerit ET, Ağbaht K, Demir Ö, Şahin M, Gedik VT, Özcan C, Çorapçıoğlu D. DISCORDANCE BETWEEN GH AND IGF-1 LEVELS IN TURKISH ACROMEGALIC PATIENTS. Endocr Pract 2016; 22:1422-1428. [PMID: 27631850 DOI: 10.4158/ep161295.or] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Discordance between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) levels is an important problem in the follow-up of patients diagnosed with acromegaly. Our aims were to evaluate the discordance between IGF-1 and GH levels and compare the performance of different cut-off levels for the nadir in GH (GHn) in acromegalic patients. METHODS The study included 63 acromegalic patients in a follow-up at a tertiary care university hospital facility. Levels of IGF-1, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and GH were investigated. The baseline GH and GHn levels were evaluated after an oral glucose tolerance test (cut-offs of 0.4 and 1 ng/mL, respectively). The discordance rates between GHn and IGF-1 levels, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios were determined. RESULTS We first adopted a GHn cut-off value of 1 ng/mL and found that 27 patients (42.9%) exhibited biochemical remission (BR) (IGF-1 <95th percentile, GH <1), and 25 patients (39.7%) had no BR (NBR) (IGF-1 ≥95th percentile, GH >1). Discordance in the presence of normal IGF-1 and nonsuppressed GH (DC1) occurred in 2 of 63 (3.2%) patients; discordance in the presence of high IGF-1 and suppressed GH (DC2) occurred in 9 of 63 (14.3%) patients. If the GHn cut-off value adopted was 0.4 ng/mL, the distributions were 17 of 63 (27.0%) patients in BR, 29 of 63 (46.0%) patients in NBR, 12 of 63 (19.0%) in DC1, and 5 of 63 (7.9%) patients in DC2. If only the baseline GH values were considered, the distributions were very similar to those with a GHn cut-off value of 0.4 ng/mL. The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio was lowest in the BR group. CONCLUSION Adopting a GHn cut-off value of 0.4 ng/mL did not increase the test performance compared with baseline GH only. In contrast, in the follow-up of acromegalic patients, the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio might be a useful measurement when discordance between IGF-1 and GH levels occurs. We propose that these values be considered in clinical practice. ABBREVIATIONS BR = biochemical remission DC1 = discordance group 1 DC2 = discordance group 2 DM = diabetes mellitus GH = growth hormone GHn = nadir in GH IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor-1 IGFBP-3 = IGF binding protein-3 LAR = long-acting release NBR = not in biochemical remission OGTT = oral glucose tolerance test.
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Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) constitutes a set of closely related protein isoforms. In clinical practice, the disagreement of test results between commercially available ligand-binding assays is still an ongoing issue, and incomplete knowledge about the particular function of the different forms leaves an uncertainty of what should be the appropriate measurand. Mass spectrometry is promising to be a way forward. Not only is it capable of providing SI-traceable reference values for the calibration of current GH-tests, but it also offers an independent approach to highly reliable mass-selective quantification of individual GH-isoforms. This capability may add to reliability in doping control too. The article points out why and how.
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Locatelli V, Bianchi VE. Effect of GH/IGF-1 on Bone Metabolism and Osteoporsosis. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014:235060. [PMID: 25147565 PMCID: PMC4132406 DOI: 10.1155/2014/235060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) are fundamental in skeletal growth during puberty and bone health throughout life. GH increases tissue formation by acting directly and indirectly on target cells; IGF-1 is a critical mediator of bone growth. Clinical studies reporting the use of GH and IGF-1 in osteoporosis and fracture healing are outlined. Methods. A Pubmed search revealed 39 clinical studies reporting the effects of GH and IGF-1 administration on bone metabolism in osteopenic and osteoporotic human subjects and on bone healing in operated patients with normal GH secretion. Eighteen clinical studies considered the effect with GH treatment, fourteen studies reported the clinical effects with IGF-1 administration, and seven related to the GH/IGF-1 effect on bone healing. Results. Both GH and IGF-1 administration significantly increased bone resorption and bone formation in the most studies. GH/IGF-1 administration in patients with hip or tibial fractures resulted in increased bone healing, rapid clinical improvements. Some conflicting results were evidenced. Conclusions. GH and IGF-1 therapy has a significant anabolic effect. GH administration for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone fractures may greatly improve clinical outcome. GH interacts with sex steroids in the anabolic process. GH resistance process is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Locatelli
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Vittorio E. Bianchi
- Endocrinology Department, Area Vasta N. 1, Cagli, Italy
- *Vittorio E. Bianchi:
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