ergoline and Hirsutism

Cushing disease (CD) results from excessive exposure to glucocorticoids caused by an adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary tumor. Inadequately treated CD is associated with significant morbidity and elevated mortality. Multicenter data on CD patients treated in routine clinical practice are needed to assess treatment outcomes in this rare disorder. The study purpose was to describe the burden of illness and treatment outcomes for CD patients.. Eight pituitary centers in four U.S. regions participated in this multicenter retrospective chart review study. Subjects were CD patients diagnosed at ≥18 years of age within the past 20 years. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to examine presenting signs, symptoms, comorbidities, and treatment outcomes.. Of 230 patients, 79% were female (median age at diagnosis, 39 years; range, 18 to 78 years). Length of follow-up was 0 to 27.5 years (median, 1.9 years). Pituitary adenomas were 0 to 51 mm. The most common presenting comorbidities included hypertension (67.3%), polycystic ovary syndrome (43.5%), and hyperlipidemia (41.5%). Biochemical control was achieved with initial pituitary surgery in 41.4% patients (91 of 220), not achieved in 50.0% of patients (110 of 220), and undetermined in 8.6% of patients (19 of 220). At the end of follow-up, control had been achieved with a variety of treatment methods in 49.1% of patients (110 of 224), not achieved in 29.9% of patients (67 of 224), and undetermined in 21.0% of patients (47 of 224).. Despite multiple treatments, at the end of follow-up, biochemical control was still not achieved in up to 30% of patients. These multicenter data demonstrate that in routine clinical practice, initial and long-term control is not achieved in a substantial number of patients with CD.. BLA = bilateral adrenalectomy CD = Cushing disease CS = Cushing syndrome eCRF = electronic case report form MRI = magnetic resonance imaging PCOS = polycystic ovary syndrome.

Topics: 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Adenoma; Adolescent; Adrenalectomy; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Cabergoline; Comorbidity; Enzyme Inhibitors; Ergolines; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hirsutism; Hormone Antagonists; Hormones; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hypertension; Hypoglycemic Agents; Ketoconazole; Male; Metyrapone; Middle Aged; Mifepristone; Muscle Weakness; Muscular Atrophy; Neurosurgical Procedures; Obesity, Abdominal; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Pituitary Irradiation; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Retrospective Studies; Rosiglitazone; Somatostatin; Striae Distensae; Thiazolidinediones; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Burden; Young Adult

Pseudoacromegaly is a extremely rare condition previously described and characterized by acromegaloid changes, tissue overgrowth, without elevations in insulin-like growth factor or growth hormone as seen in Acromegaly. We present the case of a young female seen initially with acromegaloid features and a pituitary microadenoma. After work-up the patient was diagnosed as insulin-mediated pseudoacromegaly. Only a few cases of pseudoacromegaly has been reported and should always be considered when evaluating patients for acromegaloid features with negative biochemical and hormonal levels.

Topics: Acanthosis Nigricans; Acromegaly; Adult; Bromocriptine; Cabergoline; Diagnosis, Differential; Ergolines; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hirsutism; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Hyperprolactinemia; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Pituitary Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; Prognathism; Prolactinoma

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women in reproductive age. As for the treatment of this disease the lack of a clear etiology for PCOS has led to a symptom-orientated treatment. However, the overall aims of treatment are to induce ovulation for women desiring conception, to reduce androgen levels, to reduce body weight and to reduce long-term health risks of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Clomiphene citrate (CC) is recommended as first line treatment for induction of ovulation in patients with PCOS by virtue of its efficacy, safety, and ease of administration. Alternatives for CC-resistant patients include gonadotrophin therapy (better with low-dose step-up protocol) and laparoscopic ovarian diathermy. Recently, recombinant FSH (rFSH) has been introduced in clinical practice and it seems more effective than urinary FSH as demonstrated by a significantly higher number of follicles recruited and embryos obtained with a shorter treatment period. The addition of GnRH-agonist to the stimulation protocol for women affected by PCOS could reduce premature luteinization and increase cycle fecundity. Other drugs under investigation are metformin and cabergoline. Hirsutism is the manifestation of hyperandrogenemia in PCOS. The primary goal of the treatment of hirsutim is central or peripheral androgen suppression using 3 groups of drugs: inhibitors of androgen production (oral contraceptives, GnRH analogues), peripheral androgen blockers (cyproterone acetate, flutamide, finasteride and spironolactone), and insulin-sensitizing agents (metformin). Weight reduction and exercise could also improve not only menstrual disturbances and infertility, but also insulin resistance and its adverse metabolic con-sequences.

Topics: Adult; Androgen Antagonists; Cabergoline; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clomiphene; Cyproterone Acetate; Diabetes Complications; Dopamine Agonists; Ergolines; Female; Finasteride; Flutamide; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadotropins; Hirsutism; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Infertility, Female; Insulin Resistance; Metformin; Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; Obesity; Ovulation Induction; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Risk Factors; Spironolactone; Weight Loss