Growth hormone receptor exon 3 isoforms may have no importance in the clinical setting of multiethnic Brazilian acromegaly patients.

Background: Acromegaly is associated with significant morbidity and increased mortality, but has a variable severity phenotype. The presence of the exon 3-deleted isoform of the growth hormone receptor (d3-GHR) may influence the disease phenotype and treatment outcomes, including the frequency of biochemical discordance after medical treatment.

Aims: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the d3-GHR isoform on clinical and biochemical characteristics and in the treatment outcomes of Brazilian multiethnic acromegaly patients.

Impact of gsp oncogene on the mRNA content for somatostatin and dopamine receptors in human somatotropinomas.

Introduction: It has been reported in some series that gsp+ somatotropinomas are more sensitive to somatostatin analogues (SA) and dopamine's actions which may be related to their somatostatin receptor (SSTR) and dopamine receptor (DR) profile. No previous studies have been undertaken to evaluate the SSTR and DR profile related with the gsp status in somatotropinomas.

Objectives: To determine if (1) gsp status is correlated with response to octreotide LAR (LAR) and tumor expression patterns of SSTR1-5 and DR1-5 and (2) cAMP level can directly modulate SSTR and DR mRNA levels.

Prevalence of discordant GH and IGF-I levels in acromegalics at diagnosis, after surgical treatment and during treatment with octreotide LAR.

Background: Acromegalic patients are considered "discordant" if their insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) levels are increased for their age with "safe" growth hormone (GH) levels or if their IGF-I levels are normal for their age with "unsafe" GH levels. The prevalence of discordance in acromegalics has been described to vary from 9.4% to 39%, and it may be observed at diagnosis or during the follow up.

Two hour mean GH is not superior to basal GH for the follow-up of acromegalic patients treated with Octreotide LAR.

Background: GH secretion, in acromegaly, is characterized by increased basal levels, as well as by increased frequency and amplitude of pulses. Evaluation of disease activity during follow-up of treated patients is frequently done with mean GH levels, although there is no established protocol for sample collection.

Objective: Determine mean GH value of 5 blood samples collected 30 min apart for 2 consecutive hours in the follow-up of acromegalic patients treated with octreotide LAR.