Metabolic Evaluation in Patients With Hepatitis C Treated With Direct Antiviral Agents.

Epidemiological data clearly indicate a link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and altered glucose homeostasis. To evaluate the response of treatment with direct antiviral agents (DAAs) on metabolic variables of patients with hepatitis C. Observational, cross-sectional study in a sample of patients with hepatitis C starting therapy with DAAs followed on the hepatology division of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State.

Low frequency of cardniac arrhythmias and lack of structural heart disease in medically-naïve acromegaly patients: a prospective study at baseline and after 1 year of somatostatin analogs treatment.

Background: The incidence of arrhythmias may be increased in acromegaly, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved are still unclear, and it has never been correlated with structural heart changes analyzed by the gold-standard method cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Aim: Evaluate the frequency of arrhythmias in drug-naïve acromegaly patients at baseline and after 1 year of somatostatin analogs (SA) treatment and to correlate the occurrence of arrhythmias with the presence of structural heart changes.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive drug-naïve acromegaly patients were recruited.

Experience with pegvisomant treatment in acromegaly in a single Brazilian tertiary reference center: efficacy, safety and predictors of response.

Objective: To describe the safety and efficacy of pegvisomant therapy and the predictors of treatment response in acromegaly patients at a single tertiary reference center in Brazil.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, hormonal and radiological data of acromegaly patients treated with pegvisomant in our center. We also evaluated the presence of the d3 isoform of the growth hormone receptor (d3GHR).

Low Frequency of Cardiomyopathy Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Acromegaly Contemporary Cohort.

Context: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and myocardial fibrosis are considered common findings of the acromegaly cardiomyopathy in echocardiography studies.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of LVH, systolic dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis was undertaken in patients with acromegaly using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRi) before and after 12 months of octreotide long-acting repeatable treatment.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients with active acromegaly submitted to biochemical analysis and CMRi before and after 12 months of treatment.

Low risk of coronary artery disease in patients with acromegaly.

The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in acromegalic patients and to investigate the relationship between the coronary artery calcium score (CS) and acromegaly status and clinical parameters [Framingham risk score (FRS)]. Fifty-six acromegalic patients and paired non-acromegalic volunteers were stratified according to the FRS into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. CS was assessed using multidetector computed tomography.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with prolactinoma before and after treatment with dopamine agonists.

Objectives: Obesity is the main risk factor for the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Hyperprolactinemia has also been related to obesity. To determine the OSA prevalence in patients with prolactinoma before and after dopamine agonist (DA) and to evaluate the correlation between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and prolactin levels, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral fat volume (VFV), subcutaneous fat volume, and other metabolic parameters.

Giant prolactinomas: the therapeutic approach.

Background: Giant prolactinomas are an unusual subset of macroprolactinomas and are more commonly found in men. The goal of this review is to propose a giant prolactinoma definition and discuss the available therapeutic options for biochemical and tumour volume control.

Methods: A comprehensive search of all published studies was performed between April and November 2012 in electronic databases (PubMed and Ovid).

Pituitary apoplexy during treatment of cystic macroprolactinomas with cabergoline.

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare and life-threatening clinical condition caused by hemorrhage and/or infarction of the pituitary gland or adenoma. Although pituitary apoplexy is usually spontaneous, it has been associated with numerous precipitating factors, such as bromocriptine use. However, reports of pituitary apoplexy during cabergoline therapy are scarce.