Acromegaly at diagnosis in 3173 patients from the Liège Acromegaly Survey (LAS) Database

Abstract

Acromegaly is a rare disorder caused by chronic growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion. While diagnostic and therapeutic methods have advanced, little information exists on trends in acromegaly characteristics over time. The <i>Liège Acromegaly Survey (LAS) Database</i>, a relational database, is designed to assess the profile of acromegaly patients at diagnosis and during long-term follow-up at multiple treatment centers. The following results were obtained at diagnosis. The study population consisted of 3173 acromegaly patients from ten countries; 54.5% were female. Males were significantly younger at diagnosis than females (43.5 vs 46.4 years; <i>P</i> < 0.001). The median delay from first symptoms to diagnosis was 2 years longer in females (<i>P</i> = 0.015). Ages at diagnosis and first symptoms increased significantly over time (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Tumors were larger in males than females (<i>P</i> < 0.001); tumor size and invasion were inversely related to patient age (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Random GH at diagnosis correlated with nadir GH levels during OGTT (<i>P</i> < 0.001). GH was inversely related to age in both sexes (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Diabetes mellitus was present in 27.5%, hypertension in 28.8%, sleep apnea syndrome in 25.5% and cardiac hypertrophy in 15.5%. Serious cardiovascular outcomes like stroke, heart failure and myocardial infarction were present in <5% at diagnosis. Erythrocyte levels were increased and correlated with IGF-1 values. Thyroid nodules were frequent (34.0%); 820 patients had colonoscopy at diagnosis and 13% had polyps. Osteoporosis was present at diagnosis in 12.3% and 0.6-4.4% had experienced a fracture. In conclusion, this study of >3100 patients is the largest international acromegaly database and shows clinically relevant trends in the characteristics of acromegaly at diagnosis.