Effects of Initial Therapy for Five Years with Somatostatin Analogs for Acromegaly on Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Levels, Tumor Shrinkage, and Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Study

Abstract

In patients with severe comorbidities and those who refuse surgery, 5 yr of exclusive SSA therapy induce successful control of GH and IGF-I; tumor shrinkage (by median 80%), and improvement of hypertension, cardiac performance; and dyslipidemia. No patient was withdrawn from treatment because of side effects, and glucose tolerance was stable. We suggest that first-line SSA treatment may be safely continued in patients with acromegaly, according to an individual patient's indications and preferences.