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Objective: Data on pre- and postoperative pituitary function in nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are not consistent. We aimed to investigate pituitary function before and up to 5 years after transsphenoidal surgery with emphasis on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Design and methods: Data from the Swedish Pituitary Register was used to analyze anterior pituitary function in 838 patients with NFPA diagnosed between 1991 and 2014. Patients who were reoperated or had received radiotherapy were excluded. Results: Preoperative ACTH, TSH, LH/FSH, and GH deficiencies were reported in 31% (236/755), 39% (300/769), 51% (378/742), and 28% (170/604) of the patients, respectively. Preoperative median tumor volume was 5.0 (2.4-9.0) cm³. Among patients with preoperative, 1 year and 5 years postoperative data on the HPA axis (n = 428), 125 (29%) were ACTH-deficient preoperatively. One year postoperatively, 26% (32/125) of them had recovered ACTH function while 23% (70/303) patients had developed new ACTH deficiency. Thus, 1 year postoperatively, 163 (38%) patients were ACTH-deficient (P < .001 vs. preoperatively). No further increase was seen 5 years postoperatively (36%, P = .096). At 1 year postoperatively, recoveries in the TSH and LH/FSH axes were reported in 14% (33/241) and 15% (46/310), respectively, and new deficiencies in 22% (88/403) and 29% (83/288), respectively. Conclusions: Adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency increased significantly at 1 year postoperatively. Even though not significant, some patients recovered from or developed new deficiency between 1 and 5 years postoperatively. This pattern was seen in all axes. Our study emphasizes that continuous individual evaluations are needed during longer follow-up of patients operated for NFPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) targeting the TSH receptor (TSH-R) induce hyperthyroidism in Graves´ disease (GD). Graves´ orbitopathy (GO) is influenced by stimulation of the TSH-R in the orbita. GO has been, among other factors, linked to high TRAb levels. Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) is a relatively new method for assessing TSH-receptor antibodies. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TSI in the management of GO. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed GD (n=30, median age 55 years (range 35–72), 29 women) received pharmacological therapy (methimazole+++thyroxine) for up to 24 months. GO was identified by clinical signs and symptoms. Eleven patients had GO at diagnosis, and another six developed GO during treatment. Blood samples for TSI and other thyroidal biomarkers were obtained at baseline and on five occasions during the 24-month follow-up. Twenty-two subjects completed the drug regimen without surgery or radioiodine treatment. Results At baseline, TSI was highly correlated with TRAb (r s =0.64, p<0.001), and both assays similarly correlated to fT3 values. TSI and TRAb did not differ significantly between GO and non-GO patients for visit v1 (n=30, 17 GO during the whole study) or at follow-up (n=22, 12 GO during the whole study). During follow-up, levels of TSI and TRAb decreased and normalized in both groups. Conclusion The present study does not support any added benefit of TSI compared to TRAb for the prediction and management of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Whether biochemical remission normalizes life expectancy in Cushing's disease (CD) patients remains unclear. Previous studies evaluating mortality in CD are limited by using the expected number of deaths in the background population instead of the actual number in matched controls. Objective and setting To study mortality by time-to-event analysis in an unselected nationwide CD patient cohort. Design and participants Longitudinal data from the Swedish Pituitary Register of 371 patients diagnosed with CD from 1991 to 2018 and information from the Swedish Cause of Death Register were evaluated. Four controls per patient (n = 1484) matched at the diagnosis date by age, sex, and residential area were included. Main outcome measures Mortality and causes of death. Results The median diagnosis age was 44 years (interquartile range 32-56), and the median follow-up was 10.6 years (5.7-18.0). At the 1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year follow-ups, the remission rates were 80%, 92%, 96%, 91%, and 97%, respectively. Overall mortality was increased in CD patients compared with matched controls [hazard ratio (HR) 2.1 (95% CI 1.5-2.8)]. The HRs were 1.5 (1.02-2.2) for patients in remission at the last follow-up (n = 303), 1.7 (1.03-2.8) for those in remission after a single pituitary surgery (n = 177), and 5.6 (2.7-11.6) for those not in remission (n = 31). Cardiovascular diseases (32/66) and infections (12/66) were overrepresented causes of death. Conclusions Mortality was increased in CD patients despite biochemical remission compared to matched controls. The study highlights the importance of careful comorbidity monitoring, regardless of remission status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the treatment and long-term outcomes of patients wi th acromegaly from all healthcare regions in Sweden. Design and methods: Analysis of prospectively reported data from the Swedish Pitui tary Register of 698 patients (51% females) with acromegaly diagnosed from 1991 to 2011. The lates t clinical follow-up date was December 2012, while mortality data were collected for 28.5 years until June 2019. Results: The annual incidence was 3.7/million; 71% of patients had a ma croadenoma, 18% had visual field defects, and 25% had at least one pituitary hormone deficiency. Eighty-two pe rcent had pituitary surgery, 10% radiotherapy, and 39% medical treatment. At the 5- and 10-year follow-ups, insuli n-like growth factor 1 levels were within the reference range in 69 and 78% of patients, respectively. In linear regres sion, the proportion of patients with biochemical control including adjuvant therapy at 10 years follow-up increased over time by 1.23% per year. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) (95% CI) for all patients was 1.29 (1.11-1.49). For patients with biochemical control at the latest follow-up, SMR was not increased, neither among patients diagnosed between 1991 and 2000, SMR: 1.06 (0.85-1.33) nor between 2001 and2011, SMR: 0.87 (0.61-1.24). In contrast, non-controlle d patients at the latest follow-up from both decades had elevated SMR, 1.90 (1.33-2.72) and 1.98 (1.24-3.14), respec tively. Conclusions: The proportion of patients with biochemical control increased over time. Patients with biochemically controlled acromegaly have normal life expectancy, while non-co ntrolled patients still have increased mortality. The high rate of macroadenomas and unchanged age at diagnosis i llustrates the need for improvements in the management of patients with acromegaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Psychiatric symptoms are common in Cushing's disease (CD) and seem only partly reversible following treatment.Objective: To investigate drug dispenses associated to psychiatric morbidity in CD patients before treatment and during long-term follow-up.Design: Nationwide longitudinal register-based study.Setting: University Hospitals in Sweden.Subjects: CD patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2018 (N = 372) were identified in the Swedish Pituitary Register. Longitudinal data was collected from 5 years before, at diagnosis, and during follow-up. Four matched controls per patient were included. Cross-sectional subgroup analysis of 76 patients in sustained remission was also performed.Main Outcome Measures: Data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and the Patient Register.Results: In the 5-year period before and at diagnosis, use of antidepressants (odds ratio [OR] 2.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.7]) and 2.3 [1.6-3.5]), anxiolytics [2.9 (1.6-5.3) and 3.9 (2.3-6.6)], and sleeping pills [2.1 (1.2-3.7) and 3.8 (2.4-5.9)] was more common in CD than controls. ORs remained elevated at 5-year follow-up for antidepressants [2.4 (1.5-3.9)] and sleeping pills [3.1 (1.9-5.3)]. Proportions of CD patients using antidepressants (26%) and sleeping pills (22%) were unchanged at diagnosis and 5-year follow-up, whereas drugs for hypertension and diabetes decreased. Patients in sustained remission for median 9.3 years (interquartile range 8.1-10.4) had higher use of antidepressants [OR 2.0 (1.1-3.8)] and sleeping pills [2.4 (1.3-4.7)], but not of drugs for hypertension.Conclusions: Increased use of psychotropic drugs in CD was observed before diagnosis and remained elevated regardless of remission status, suggesting persisting negative effects on mental health. The study highlights the importance of early diagnosis of CD, and the need for long-term monitoring of mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The challenge of diagnosing Cushing's syndrome (CS) calls for high precision biochemical screening. This study aimed to establish robust reference intervals for, and co mpare the diagnostic accuracy of, salivary cortisol and cortisone in late-night samples and after a low-dose (1 mg) dex amethasone suppression test (DST). Design and methods: Saliva samples were collected at 08:00 and 23:00 h, and at 08: 00 h, after a DST, from 22 patients with CS and from 155 adult reference subjects. We also collected samples at 20:00 and 22:00 h from 78 of the reference subjects. Salivary cortisol and cortisone were analysed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals were calculated as the 2. 5th and 97.5th percentiles of the reference population measurements. Diagnostic accuracies of different tests were comp ared, based on areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results: The upper reference limits of salivary cortisol and cortisone at 23:00 h were 3.6 nmol/L and 13.5 nmol/L, respectively. Using these reference limits, CS was detected with a sensitivity (95% CI) of 90% (70-99%) and specificity of 96% (91-98%) for cortisol, and a 100% (84-100%) sensitivity and 95% (90-98%) specificity for cortisone. After DST, cortisol and cortisone upper reference limits were 0.79 nmol/L and 3.5 nmol/L, respectively. CS was detected with 95% (75-100%) sensitivity and 96% (92-99%) specificity with cortisol, and 100% (83-100%) sensitivity and 94% (89-97%) specificity with cortisone. No differences in salivary cortisol o r cortisone levels were found between samples collected at 22:00 and 23:00 h. Conclusion: Salivary cortisol and cortisone in late-night samples and afte r DST showed high accuracy for diagnosing CS, salivary cortisone being slightly, but significantly better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect on insulin sensitivity and body composition of combination therapy with GH and IGF1 in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) and diabetes. Design, patients and methods: A 6-month randomised placebo-controlled pilot study. Fourteen adults with GHD and type 2 diabetes were included. All received rhGH (0.15 mg/day for 1 month and 0.3 mg/day for 5 months) and were randomised to rhIGF1 (15 μg/kg per day for 1 month and 30 μg/kg per day for 5 months) or placebo. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated with euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp and body composition by computed tomography of abdominal and thigh fat, as well as bioimpedance. Results: Twelve patients completed the study. They were overweight and obese; at baseline, insulin sensitivity (M-value) was low. IGF1 and IGF1 SDS increased in both groups, with the highest increase in the GH and IGF1 group. Positive changes in M-value by +1.4 mg/kg per min, in subcutaneous abdominal fat by -60.5 ml and in fat-free mass by +4.4% were seen in the GH and IGF1 group. Corresponding values in the GH and placebo-treated group were -1.5 mg/kg per min, +23 ml and -0.04% respectively (P=0.02, P=0.04 and P=0.03 for delta values between groups). No safety issues occurred. Conclusions: Combined GH and IGF1 treatment resulted in positive, but rather small effects, and might be a treatment option in a few selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: There is a considerable diagnostic delay in acromegaly contributing to increased morbidity. Voice changes due to orofacial and laryngeal changes are common in acromegaly., Objective: Our aim was to explore the use of digital voice analysis as a biomarker for acromegaly using broad acoustic analysis and machine learning., Methods: Voice recordings from patients with acromegaly and matched controls were collected using a mobile phone at Swedish university hospitals. Anthropometric and clinical data and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) were assessed. Digital voice analysis of a sustained and stable vowel [a] resulted in 3274 parameters, which were used for training of machine learning models classifying the speaker as "acromegaly" or "control". The machine learning model was trained with 76% of the data and the remaining 24% was used to assess its performance. For comparison, voice recordings of 50 pairs of participants were assessed by 12 experienced endocrinologists., Results: We included 151 Swedish patients with acromegaly (13% biochemically active and 10% newly diagnosed) and 139 matched controls. The machine learning model identified patients with acromegaly more accurately [area under the receiver operating curve (ROC AUC) 0.84] than experienced endocrinologists (ROC AUC 0.69). Self-reported voice problems were more pronounced in patients with acromegaly than matched controls (median VHI 6 vs 2, P < .01) with higher prevalence of clinically significant voice handicap (VHI ≥20: 22.5% vs 3.6%)., Conclusion: Digital voice analysis can identify patients with acromegaly from short voice recordings with high accuracy. Patients with acromegaly experience more voice disorders than matched controls., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Context: Aggressive pituitary tumors (APTs) are characterized by unusually rapid growth and lack of response to standard treatment. About 1% to 2% develop metastases being classified as pituitary carcinomas (PCs). For unknown reasons, the corticotroph tumors are overrepresented among APTs and PCs. Mutations in the alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene, regulating chromatin remodeling and telomere maintenance, have been implicated in the development of several cancer types, including neuroendocrine tumors., Objective: To study ATRX protein expression and mutational status of the ATRX gene in APTs and PCs., Design: We investigated ATRX protein expression by using immunohistochemistry in 30 APTs and 18 PCs, mostly of Pit-1 and T-Pit cell lineage. In tumors lacking ATRX immunolabeling, mutational status of the ATRX gene was explored., Results: Nine of the 48 tumors (19%) demonstrated lack of ATRX immunolabelling with a higher proportion in patients with PCs (5/18; 28%) than in those with APTs (4/30;13%). Lack of ATRX was most common in the corticotroph tumors, 7/22 (32%), versus tumors of the Pit-1 lineage, 2/24 (8%). Loss-of-function ATRX mutations were found in all 9 ATRX immunonegative cases: nonsense mutations (n = 4), frameshift deletions (n = 4), and large deletions affecting 22-28 of the 36 exons (n = 3). More than 1 ATRX gene defect was identified in 2 PCs., Conclusion: ATRX mutations occur in a subset of APTs and are more common in corticotroph tumors. The findings provide a rationale for performing ATRX immunohistochemistry to identify patients at risk of developing aggressive and potentially metastatic pituitary tumors., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Context: Oral once-daily dual-release hydrocortisone (DR-HC) replacement therapy has demonstrated an improved metabolic profile compared to conventional 3-times-daily (TID-HC) therapy among patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. This effect might be related to a more physiological cortisol profile, but also to a modified pattern of cortisol metabolism., Objective: This work aimed to study cortisol metabolism during DR-HC and TID-HC., Design: A randomized, 12-week, crossover study was conducted., Intervention and Participants: DC-HC and same daily dose of TID-HC were administered to patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (n = 50) vs healthy individuals (n = 124) as controls., Main Outcome Measures: Urinary corticosteroid metabolites were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at 24-hour urinary collections., Results: Total cortisol metabolites decreased during DR-HC compared to TID-HC (P < .001) and reached control values (P = .089). During DR-HC, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity measured by tetrahydrocortisol + 5α-tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio was reduced compared to TID-HC (P < .05), but remained increased vs controls (P < .001). 11β-HSD2 activity measured by urinary free cortisone/free cortisol ratio was decreased with TID-HC vs controls (P < .01) but normalized with DR-HC (P = .358). 5α- and 5β-reduced metabolites were decreased with DR-HC compared to TID-HC. Tetrahydrocortisol/5α-tetrahydrocortisol ratio was increased during both treatments, suggesting increased 5β-reductase activity., Conclusions: The urinary cortisol metabolome shows striking abnormalities in patients receiving conventional TID-HC replacement therapy, with increased 11β-HSD1 activity that may account for the unfavorable metabolic phenotype in primary adrenal insufficiency. Its change toward normalization with DR-HC may mediate beneficial metabolic effects. The urinary cortisol metabolome may serve as a tool to assess optimal cortisol replacement therapy., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)