Digital quantification of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 in GH-secreting pituitary tumors.

Immunohistochemistry of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) can predict response to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) in acromegaly. Recently, we validated an open-source digital image analysis (DIA) to quantify SSTR2 expression. We aimed to validate the DIA also on SSTR5 in a new cohort of GH-secreting pituitary tumors, with immunohistochemistry performed in a different laboratory, and to correlate fg-SRL response with SSTs expression.

Temporal and masseter muscle evaluation by MRI provides information on muscle mass and quality in acromegaly patients.

Purpose: The impact of GH/IGF-1 levels on skeletal muscle in acromegaly is still controversial. Temporal (TMT) and masseter muscle (MMT) thickness has been recently demonstrated as a reliable measure of muscle mass. We aimed to investigate the relationship between TMT, MMT and clinical/biochemical characteristics in patients with acromegaly.

Skeletal Muscle Evaluation in Patients With Acromegaly.

Context: Patients with acromegaly are characterized by chronic exposure to high growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, known for their anabolic effect on skeletal muscle. Therefore, an increased skeletal muscle mass could be hypothesized in these individuals. Herein, we have performed a systematic revision of published evidence regarding skeletal muscle mass, quality, and performance in patients with acromegaly.

Pasireotide effects on biochemical control and glycometabolic profile in acromegaly patients switched from combination therapies or unconventional dosages of somatostatin analogs.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of pasireotide (PAS) therapy on hormonal and glycometabolic outcome in patients with acromegaly previously treated with combination medical therapies or unconventional dosages of first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs).

Methods: Retrospective study carried out in two referral centers for pituitary diseases. Twenty-one acromegalic patients were switched to PAS (12 had biochemical control, 9 were uncontrolled).

Trabecular Bone Score as a Reliable Measure of Lumbar Spine Bone Microarchitecture in Acromegalic Patients.

Although GH and IGF-1 excess has a controversial impact on bone mineral density (BMD), acromegalic patients display variable degrees of bone structure impairment. In this study, we aim to investigate the usefulness of trabecular bone score (TBS), compared to BMD, in identifying acromegalic patients with impaired lumbar spine trabecular microarchitecture. Forty-four acromegalic patients were investigated for disease control, metabolic and gonadal status, bone metabolism parameters, and the presence of vertebral fractures (VFs).