The metabolic consequences of thyroxine replacement in adult hypopituitary patients.

The metabolic consequences of thyroxine replacement in patients with central hypothyroidism (CH) need to be evaluated. The aim was to examine the outcome of thyroxine replacement in CH. Adult hypopituitary patients (n = 1595) with and without CH from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) were studied before and after 2 years of GH replacement.

Lipoatrophy in GH deficient patients treated with a long-acting pegylated GH.

Objective: Changes observed during adult GH deficiency (GHD) are most often reversed with the administration of recombinant human GH (rhGH). To avoid daily injections, a long-acting GH molecule has been obtained by covalent binding of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with rhGH (PEG-GH), allowing weekly s.c.

Growth hormone (GH) replacement decreases serum total and LDL-cholesterol in hypopituitary patients on maintenance HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy.

Objective: Adult onset GH deficiency (GHD) is characterized by abnormalities of serum lipoprotein profiles and GH replacement results in favourable alterations in serum total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. Preliminary evidence has indicated that the effect of GH replacement in this respect may be additive to that of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy. We have examined this possibility during prospective follow-up of adult onset hypopituitary patients enrolled in KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database), a pharmacoepidemiological study of GH replacement in adult hypopituitary patients.

Treatment with growth hormone receptor antagonist in acromegaly: effect on cardiac structure and performance.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of short-term (6 months) and long-term (18 months) treatment with pegvisomant on cardiac structure and performance in patients with acromegaly.

Patients: Seventeen patients (nine women, eight men, 27-61 yr) with active acromegaly entered and 12 completed the long-term study. After a baseline evaluation, including measurement of hemodynamic, biochemical, and hormonal parameters, and a standard Doppler echocardiography, treatment with pegvisomant was started at the initial dose of 10 mg/d, increasing by 5 mg/d every 6 wk on the basis of IGF-I levels until normalization or the achievement of a maximal dose of 40 mg/d.

Efficacy of 12-month treatment with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant in patients with acromegaly resistant to long-term, high-dose somatostatin analog treatment: effect on IGF-I levels, tumor mass, hypertension and glucose tolerance.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of pegvisomant in patients with acromegaly resistant to long-term (> or = 24-month), high-dose treatment with octreotide-LAR (40 mg/month) or lanreotide (120 mg/month).

Design: This was an open, prospective study.

Subjects And Methods: We studied 16 patients with acromegaly (nine women; aged 28-61 years).

Inhaled insulin provides improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with oral agents: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The long-term benefits of good glycemic control are well established. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to determine whether glycemic control can be improved in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with suboptimal glycemic control, despite therapeutic dosages of oral antihyperglycemic agents (OHAs), by the addition of preprandial inhaled insulin (INH).

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (glycosylated hemoglobin, 8.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of extended-release glipizide GITS compared with immediate-release glipizide in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

This study was designed to compare the pharmacokinetic and short-term pharmacodynamic profile of extended-release glipizide GITS (Glucotrol XL) given in a dosage of 20 mg once daily with that of immediate-release glipizide (Glucotrol) 10mg twice daily in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. In an open-label, randomized, two-way crossover study, each glipizide formulation was administered for 5 days. Serial blood samples were drawn at baseline and on the 5th day of each treatment phase for measurement of glipizide, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations.

Treatment satisfaction in type 2 diabetes: a comparison between an inhaled insulin regimen and a subcutaneous insulin regimen.

Background: In patients with type 2 diabetes, published data suggest that glycemic control can be achieved as effectively with an inhaled insulin regimen (preprandial inhaled intrapulmonary insulin plus a single bedtime Ultralente injection) as with a conventional subcutaneous insulin regimen involving 2 to 3 injections per day. It is unknown whether inhalation delivery of insulin improves patient satisfaction.

Objective: Our objective was to compare patient satisfaction between an inhaled insulin regimen and a subcutaneous insulin regimen.