Growth hormone binding protein and acid labile subunit levels in the assessment of acromegaly treatment.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Post-treatment monitoring of acromegalic patients is a matter of controversy, as discrepancies between GH and IGF-I levels have been reported. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of acid-labile subunit (ALS), a component of the 150 kD IGF-I/IGFBP-3/ALS complex, and the growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) in the follow-up of patients with acromegaly after therapeutic intervention.

DESIGN:

Forty-one patients with acromegaly, 10 at the time of diagnosis and 31 post therapeutic intervention, were studied. Patients were evaluated by the determination of baseline (fasting) IGF-I, ALS and GHBP and of glucose and GH during OGTT.

RESULTS:

Significantly lower ALS and higher GHBP levels were detected in successfully treated acromegalics compared to patients before treatment (34.1+/-1.6 vs. 52.8+/-2 mg/L and 0.9+/-0.08 vs 0.4+/-0.1 ìg/L, respectively P<0.05). Furthermore, no difference was noted in ALS and GHBP values between patients successfully treated with either somatostatin analogues or another type of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

a) Successfully treated acromegalic patients demonstrate lower ALS and higher GHBP levels than patients before treatment, and b) somatostatin analogue treatment does not have a direct effect on GHBP and ALS concentration in acromegaly. Studies in larger groups of patients are needed to disclose whether these alterations will be useful in the post-treatment assessment of acromegalic patients.

• Authors: Marinella Tzanela, Marieta Christoforaki, Lida Papastathopoulou, Dimitra Vassiliadi, Effie Botoula, Panagiotis Trivizas, Nikos C Thalassinos
• Journal: Hormones (Athens, Greece) (Hormones (Athens)) 2005 Jul-Sep Vol. 4 Issue 3 Pg. 148-54 ISSN: 1109-3099 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 16613824 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Carrier Proteins
• Somatostatin
• Growth Hormone
• somatotropin-binding protein

Topics

• Acromegaly (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Carrier Proteins (analysis, metabolism)
• Craniotomy (methods)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Growth Hormone (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Somatostatin (analogs & derivatives)
• Treatment Outcome