Incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke in acromegaly patients: results from the German Acromegaly Registry.

Purpose: Acromegaly is a rare disease generally brought about by a benign tumour in the pituitary and characterized by growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) excess. Increased mortality has been related to cardiovascular events that could be linked to these hormones and patients suffer from high rates of diabetes and hypertension. In this study, we examine if the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke differ from that of the general population.

The Incidence of Cancer Among Acromegaly Patients: Results From the German Acromegaly Registry.

Context: Acromegaly is a rare disease characterized by high serum levels of GH and IGF-1. Animal studies have demonstrated links between these hormones and cancer, but data regarding cancer incidence among acromegaly patients are inconsistent. Moreover, therapy options have changed considerably since many of the aforementioned data were collected.

Failure to achieve disease control in acromegaly: cause analysis by a registry-based survey.

Context: Disease control is a prime target in acromegaly treatment. This should be achievable in the vast majority of patients by available treatment options. For unknown reasons, however, a significant number of patients do not achieve disease control.

Frequency of AIP gene mutations in young patients with acromegaly: a registry-based study.

Context: Familial and sporadic GH-secreting pituitary adenomas are associated with mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene. Patients with an AIP mutation (AIPmut) tend to have more aggressive tumors occurring at a younger age.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the frequency of AIPmut in patients diagnosed at 30 years of age or younger.

Long-term outcome in patients with acromegaly: analysis of 1344 patients from the German Acromegaly Register.

Background: Acromegaly is a rare disease with significant morbidity and increased mortality. Epidemiological data about therapeutic outcome under 'real life' conditions are scarce.

Objective: To describe biochemical long-term outcome of acromegaly patients in Germany.

[Role of TSH receptor autoantibodies for the diagnosis of Graves' disease and for the prediction of the course of hyperthyroidism and ophthalmopathy. Recommendations of the Thyroid Section of the German Society of Endocrinology].

Graves' disease (GD) is the only autoimmune disease where autoantibodies stimulate the target organs. Among the most common clinical manifestations are hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy (GO). To ensure the diagnosis of autoimmune hyperthyroidism, activity of TSH receptor autoantibodies (TRAb) should be determined.

[The LISA trial-a- randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled four-arm study of 1,000 patients with nodular goiter in Germany. Study Design and first results of feasibility].

Background: Although levothyroxine is the mostly prescribed medicament in Germany, its therapeutic effectiveness in nodular goiter was never studied in a randomized, double-blind trial with sufficient power. Thus, in May 2004 a TSH-adapted (TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone), randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled four-arm (placebo [P] vs. levothyroxine [T] vs.

[Bioequivalence of L-thyroxine tablets and a liquid L-thyroxine solution in the treatment of hypothyroid patients].

Background And Purpose: The therapeutic equivalence of L-thyroxine (T(4)) tablets and a new liquid T(4) solution was investigated in patients with hypothyroidism.

Patients And Methods: The study was unblinded, multicentric and prospective: 136 patients (with autoimmune thyroiditis, after thyroid surgery and/or after therapy with radioiodine), who had been treated with T(4) tablets, were switched to a treatment with a liquid T(4) solution (containing 5 microg T(4) per drop) in the same dosage. Thyrotropin (TSH) was measured after 1, 2, 3, and 6 months; the dose of the T4 solution was adapted to obtain a midnormal TSH level.