Objective: It is still unknown whether prolonged treatment with somatostatin analogs (SSTa) may use a long-lasting disease remission in GH-secreting adenomas after drug discontinuation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the evolution of GH/IGF-I secretion and tumor mass after SSTa withdrawal in patients affected by acromegaly. Patients and Design: A total of 27 patients with acromegaly (12 de novo and 15 previously operated) were treated with SSTA for a median period of 48 months and considered optimally controlled in hormonal and neuroradiological terms. None of them were previously irradiated. Methods: Basal GH, post-glucose GH nadir, IGF-I, clinical signs/ symptoms, and metabolic parameters were evaluated after 12-16 weeks from drug withdrawal. Only patients who met the current criteria for disease remission remained in drug suspension being periodically re-evaluated for biochemical/-clinical data and neuroradiological imaging. Results: After 12-16 weeks withdrawal, 15 of the 27 patients had disease relapse and restarted SSTa, while 12 were considered 'in disease remission' (44% of total). Glucose metabolism improved in both euglycemic and diabetic patients after short-term SSTa discontinuation. Only one of the ten patients who reached 24 weeks withdrawal showed biochemical disease recurrence. On the whole, five of the patients still in remission after 6 months have already prolonged the follow-up over 12 months (median: 24 months), without clinical and biochemical/ neuroradiological evidence of disease recurrence. Conclusions: These preliminary data indicate a successful withdrawal of SSTa at least in a subset of well-responsive patients with acromegaly and challenge the previously held concept that medical therapy is always a lifelong requirement.
Preliminary data on biochemical remission of acromegaly after somatostatin analogs withdrawal / C.L. Ronchi, E. Rizzo, A.G. Lania, R. Pivonello, S. Grottoli, A. Colao, E. Ghigo, A. Spada, M. Arosio, P. Beck Peccoz. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0804-4643. - 158:1(2008 Jan), pp. 19-25.
Titolo: | Preliminary data on biochemical remission of acromegaly after somatostatin analogs withdrawal | |
Autori: | RONCHI, CRISTINA LUCIA (Primo) RIZZO, ERICA (Secondo) AROSIO, MAURA (Penultimo) BECK PECCOZ, PAOLO LUIGI MARIA (Ultimo) | |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/13 - Endocrinologia | |
Data di pubblicazione: | gen-2008 | |
Rivista: | ||
Tipologia: | Article (author) | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/EJE-07-0488 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |