Global clinical response in C ushing's syndrome patients treated with mifepristone

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106755/1/cen12332.pd

Growth Hormone Research Society perspective on the development of long-acting growth hormone preparations

Objective The Growth Hormone (GH) Research Society (GRS) convened a workshop to address important issues regarding trial design, efficacy, and safety of long-acting growth hormone preparations (LAGH). Participants A closed meeting of 55 international scientists with expertise in GH, including pediatric and adult endocrinologists, basic scientists, regulatory scientists, and participants from the pharmaceutical industry. Evidence Current literature was reviewed for gaps in knowledge. Expert opinion was used to suggest studies required to address potential safety and efficacy issues. Consensus process Following plenary presentations summarizing the literature, breakout groups discussed questions framed by the planning committee. Attendees reconvened after each breakout session to share group reports. A writing team compiled the breakout session reports into a draft document that was discussed and revised in an open forum on the concluding day. This was edited further and then circulated to attendees from academic institutions for review after the meeting. Participants from pharmaceutical companies did not participate in the planning, writing, or in the discussions and text revision on the final day of the workshop. Scientists from industry and regulatory agencies reviewed the manuscript to identify any factual errors. Conclusions LAGH compounds may represent an advance over daily GH injections because of increased convenience and differing phamacodynamic properties, providing the potential for improved adherence and outcomes. Better methods to assess adherence must be developed and validated. Long-term surveillance registries that include assessment of efficacy, cost-benefit, disease burden, quality of life, and safety are essential for understanding the impact of sustained exposure to LAGH preparations

Pituitary Neoplasm Nomenclature Workshop: Does Adenoma Stand the Test of Time?

The WHO Classification of Endocrine Tumours designates pituitary neoplasms as adenomas. A proposed nomenclature change to pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) has been met with concern by some stakeholder groups. The Pituitary Society coordinated the Pituitary Neoplasm Nomenclature (PANOMEN) workshop to address the topic. Experts in pituitary developmental biology, pathology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, and oncology, including representatives nominated by the Endocrine Society, European Society of Endocrinology, European Neuroendocrine Association, Growth Hormone Research Society, and International Society of Pituitary Surgeons. Clinical epidemiology, disease phenotype, management, and prognosis of pituitary adenomas differ from that of most NETs. The vast majority of pituitary adenomas are benign and do not adversely impact life expectancy. A nomenclature change to PitNET does not address the main challenge of prognostic prediction, assigns an uncertain malignancy designation to benign pituitary adenomas, and may adversely affect patients. Due to pandemic restrictions, the workshop was conducted virtually, with audiovisual lectures and written précis on each topic provided to all participants. Feedback was collated and summarized by Content Chairs and discussed during a virtual writing meeting moderated by Session Chairs, which yielded an evidence-based draft document sent to all participants for review and approval. There is not yet a case for adopting the PitNET nomenclature. The PANOMEN Workshop recommends that the term adenoma be retained and that the topic be revisited as new evidence on pituitary neoplasm biology emerges

Long-term treatment of acromegaly with pegvisomant, a growth hormone receptor antagonist

"Background Pegvisomant is a new growth hormone receptor antagonist that improves symptoms and normalises insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in a high proportion of patients with acromegaly treated for up to 12 weeks. We assessed the effects of pegvisomant in 160 patients with acromegaly treated for an average of 425 days. Methods Treatment efficacy was assessed by measuring changes in tumour volume by magnetic resonance imaging, and serum growth hormone and IGF-1 concentrations in 152 patients who received pegvisomant by daily subcutaneous injection for up to 18 months. The safety analysis included 160 patients some of whom received weekly injections and are excluded from the efficacy analysis. Findings Mean serum IGF-1 concentrations fell by at least 50%: 467 μg/L (SE 24), 526 μg/L (29), and 523 μg/L (40) in patients treated for 6, 12 and 18 months, respectively (p less than 0·001), whereas growth hormone increased by 12·5 μg/L (2·1), 12·5 μg/L (3·0), and 14·2 μg/L (5·7) (p less than 0·001). Of the patients treated for 12 months or more, 87 of 90 (97%) achieved a normal serum IGF-1 concentration. In patients withdrawn from pegvisomant (n=45), serum growth hormone concentrations were 8·0 μg/L (2·5) at baseline, rose to 15·2 μg/L (2·4) on drug, and fell back within 30 days of withdrawal to 8·3 μg/L (2·7). Antibodies to growth hormone were detected in 27 (16·9%) of patients, but no tachyphylaxis was seen. Serum insulin and glucose concentrations were significantly decreased (p less than 0·05). Two patients experienced progressive growth of their pituitary tumours, and two other patients had increased alanine and asparate aminotransferase concentrations requiring withdrawal from treatment. Mean pituitary tumour volume in 131 patients followed for a mean of 11·46 months (0·70) decreased by 0·033 cm3(0·057; p=0·353). Interpretation Pegvisomant is an effective medical treatment for acromegaly.

Growth Hormone Research Society perspective on the development of long-acting growth hormone preparations: Table 1

The Growth Hormone (GH) Research Society (GRS) convened a workshop to address important issues regarding trial design, efficacy, and safety of long-acting growth hormone preparations (LAGH)

Pituitary incidentaloma : An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

Abstract Objective: The aim was to formulate practice guidelines for endocrine evaluation and treatment of pituitary incidentalomas. Consensus Process: Consensus was guided by systematic reviews of evidence and discussions through a series of conference calls and e-mails and one in-person meeting. Conclusions: We recommend that patients with a pituitary incidentaloma undergo a complete history and physical examination, laboratory evaluations screening for hormone hypersecretion and for hypopituitarism, and a visual field examination if the lesion abuts the optic nerves or chiasm. We recommend that patients with incidentalomas not meeting criteria for surgical removal be followed with clinical assessments, neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months for macroincidentalomas, 1 yr for a microincidentaloma, and thereafter progressively less frequently if unchanged in size), visual field examinations for incidentalomas that abut or compress the optic nerve and chiasm (6 months and yearly), and endocrine testing for macroincidentalomas (6 months and yearly) after the initial evaluations. We recommend that patients with a pituitary incidentaloma be referred for surgery if they have a visual field deficit; signs of compression by the tumor leading to other visual abnormalities, such as ophthalmoplegia, or neurological compromise due to compression by the lesion; a lesion abutting the optic nerves or chiasm; pituitary apoplexy with visual disturbance; or if the incidentaloma is a hypersecreting tumor other than a prolactinoma. </jats:sec

Meanings of Parenting Sessions for Fathers and Mothers Raising Infants under the Age of One Year; through Open-ended description by the Participants

textabstractContext: Although considerable data exist on the use of long-acting somatostatin analogs to treat acromegaly, their reported efficacy differs substantially among trials. Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis to derive definitive estimates of their efficacy for biochemical control and tumor shrinkage. Data Sources: A search of literature was conducted through 2003, primarily via PubMed. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria, met in 44 trials, included at least 3 months of secondary octreotide long-acting release (LAR) or lanreotide slow release (SR) therapy or of primary octreotide LAR, lanreotide SR, or sc octreotide therapy and clearly reported data on biochemical efficacy and/or tumor shrinkage. Fifty other trials screened did not meet analysis inclusion criteria. Data Extraction: Data were extracted by three independent observers. Data Synthesis: Among subjects not selected for somatostatin analog responsiveness before study entry, both GH efficacy criteria and IGF-I normalization were met in a greater proportion of those treated with octreotide LAR vs. lanreotide SR (GH: B = 0.2310, P = 0.016; IGF-I: B = 0.2325, P = 0.007). Prestudy selection for somatostatin analog responsiveness was not a significant predictor of meeting GH efficacy criteria (B = 0.0992; P = 0.12). Preselection was a positive predictor of IGF-I normalization rate (B = 0.1213; P = 0.04), which was greater among preselected than unselected subjects (B = 0.1472; P = 0.0475). IGF-I normalization occurred in a greater proportion of secondary octreotide LAR- vs. primary octreotide-treated subjects (B = 0.2056; P = 0.009). The odds of tumor shrinkage more than 10% were lower in the unselected vs. preselected subjects. However, the effect of drug type was an important predictor of shrinkage; such that regardless of preselection or not, the odds of shrinkage with lanreotide SR were lower than with octreotide LAR (P=0.003). Shrinkage greater than 10% occurred in a higher percentage of primary octreotide LAR-treated vs. primary octreotide sc-treated subjects (odds ratio = 9.4; P < 0.0001). The overall rate of tumor increase was 1.4%. Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, we have shown that the efficacy of octreotide LAR is greater than lanreotide SR among subjects unselected for prior somatostatin analog responsiveness. Preselection is a significant positive predictor of IGF-I normalization and is associated with increased odds of tumor shrinkage, which is also greatest with octreotide LAR. Biochemical efficacy is similar, but tumor shrinkage is greater when these drugs are given as primary vs. secondary therapy. Copyrigh