Racial Disparities in Acromegaly and Cushing\u27s Disease: A Referral Center Study in 241 Patients

Context: Acromegaly (ACM) and Cushing\u27s disease (CD) are caused by functioning pituitary adenomas secreting growth hormone and ACTH respectively. Objective: To determine the impact of race on presentation and postoperative outcomes in adults with ACM and CD, which has not yet been evaluated. Methods: This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients operated at a large-volume pituitary center. We evaluated (1) racial distribution of patients residing in the metropolitan area (Metro, N=124) vs 2010 US census data, and(2) presentation and postoperative outcomes in Black vs White for patients from the entire catchment area (N=241). Results: For Metro area (32.4% Black population), Black patients represented 16.75% ACM (P=.006) and 29.2% CD (P=.56). Among the total 112 patients with ACM, presentations with headaches or incidentaloma were more common in Black patients (76.9% vs 31% White, P=.01). Black patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes (54% vs 16% White, P=.005), significantly lower interferon insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 deviation from normal (P=.03) and borderline lower median growth hormone levels (P=.09). Mean tumor diameter and proportion of tumors with cavernous sinus invasion were similar. Three-month biochemical remission (46% Black, 55% White, P=.76) and long-term IGF-1 control by multimodality therapy (92.3% Black, 80.5% White, P=.45) were similar. Among the total 129 patients with CD, Black patients had more hypopituitarism (69% vs 45% White, P=.04) and macroadenomas (33% vs 15% White, P=.05). At 3 months, remission rate was borderline higher in White (92% vs 78% Black, P=0.08), which was attributed to macroadenomas by logistic regression. Conclusion: We identified disparities regarding racial distribution, and clinical and biochemical characteristics in ACM, suggesting late or missed diagnosis in Black patients. Large nationwide studies are necessary to confirm our findings

Screening for comorbid conditions in patients enrolled in the SODA registry: a 2-year observational analysis

Purpose This 2-year analysis assessed frequency of comorbidities and comorbidity screening in the Somatuline® (lanreotide, LAN) Depot for Acromegaly (SODA) registry. Methods: Patient data collected included pituitary hormone deficiencies, sleep studies, echocardiograms, gallbladder sonographies, colonoscopies, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone levels in patients with (DM) and without (non-DM) diabetes mellitus were analyzed. Results: There were 241 patients enrolled. Pituitary hormone deficiencies were reported more frequently at enrollment in male (56.9%) vs female patients (32.0%; p < 0.001). TSH deficiency was the most common endocrine deficiency (69.8%), followed by gonadotropin deficiency (62.3%). Screening tests reported at enrollment: sleep studies in 29.9% (79.2% had sleep apnea), echocardiogram in 46.1% (46.8% abnormal), gallbladder sonography in 18.7% (17.8% had gallstones), and colonoscopy in 48.1% (35.3% had polyps). Follow-up studies were reported less frequently at 1 and 2 years. HbA1c data were reported in 30.8% and 41.2% after 1 and 2 years. HbA1c levels were similar at 1 and 2 years of LAN therapy among DM and non-DM patients with available data. Fewer DM vs non-DM patients achieved IGF-1 below upper limit of normal at Month 24 (58.3% vs 80.6%; p = 0.033). Conclusions: Fewer than half of patients in SODA had screening results reported at enrollment for sleep apnea, cardiomyopathy, and colon polyps. Gallbladder imaging was reported in a minority of patients. Lower IGF-1 control rates were observed in DM vs non-DM patients at Month 24. These data suggest a need for better monitoring of comorbidities in US acromegaly patients

Pituitary Society Delphi Survey: An international perspective on endocrine management of patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas.

PURPOSE: In adults and children, transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) represents the cornerstone of management for most large or functioning sellar lesions with the exception of prolactinomas. Endocrine evaluation and management are an essential part of perioperative care. However, the details of endocrine assessment and care are not universally agreed upon. METHODS: To build consensus on the endocrine evaluation and management of adults undergoing TSS, a Delphi process was used. Thirty-five statements were developed by the Pituitary Society's Education Committee. Fifty-five pituitary endocrinologists, all members of the Pituitary Society, were invited to participate in two Delphi rounds and rate their extent of agreement with statements pertaining to perioperative endocrine evaluation and management, using a Likert-type scale. Anonymized data on the proportion of panelists' agreeing with each item were summarized. A list of items that achieved consensus, based on predefined criteria, was tabulated. RESULTS: Strong consensus (≥ 80% of panelists rating their agreement as 6-7 on a scale from 1 to 7) was achieved for 68.6% (24/35) items. If less strict agreement criteria were applied (ratings 5-7 on the Likert-type scale), consensus was achieved for 88% (31/35) items. CONCLUSIONS: We achieved consensus on a large majority of items pertaining to perioperative endocrine evaluation and management using a Delphi process. This provides an international real-world clinical perspective from an expert group and facilitates a framework for future guideline development. Some of the items for which consensus was not reached, including the assessment of immediate postoperative remission in acromegaly or Cushing's disease, represent areas where further research is needed

Multidisciplinary management of acromegaly: A consensus.

The 13th Acromegaly Consensus Conference was held in November 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and comprised acromegaly experts including endocrinologists and neurosurgeons who considered optimal approaches for multidisciplinary acromegaly management. Focused discussions reviewed techniques, results, and side effects of surgery, radiotherapy, and medical therapy, and how advances in technology and novel techniques have changed the way these modalities are used alone or in combination. Effects of treatment on patient outcomes were considered, along with strategies for optimizing and personalizing therapeutic approaches. Expert consensus recommendations emphasize how best to implement available treatment options as part of a multidisciplinary approach at Pituitary Tumor Centers of Excellence

Neuropsychological and Emotional Functioning in Patients with Cushing’s Syndrome

Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) frequently report impairments in cognitive and emotional functioning. Given neuroimaging research that implicates alterations in structure and function in the brain in this population, goals of this study were to investigate neuropsychological and emotional functioning, with particular emphasis on complex attention and memory. In a clinical sample of 18 adults with CS referred for neuropsychological evaluation (age 41.6±10.6, 72% Caucasian), patients’ most common subjective complaints were in attention and increased irritability. On objective testing, patients exhibited significant declines in the consistency of their sustained attention and visual-spatial functioning compared to normative peers. Patients exhibited on average significantly reduced initial learning following first exposure to visual and verbal stimuli but intact retention of information learned. Patients with CS endorsed highly elevated levels of somatization, depression, and anxiety, and 59% of them scored in the clinically elevated range for somatization and depressive symptomatology. Exploratory analyses suggested that the 11 patients with active Cushing’s exhibited lower processing speed, poorer sustained attention, naming, and cognitive flexibility compared to the 7 patients who achieved biochemical remission. Patients with active Cushing’s also reported higher levels of somatization and anxiety compared to patients in biochemical remission. Overall, this study provides new insights into complex attention and memory deficits in patients with CS and concern regarding cognitive and emotional issues despite resolution of hypercortisolism. Our study opens several avenues for further exploration