Evaluation of Serum Lipid Parameters in Acromegaly Patients

Abstract

Objective: In acromegaly, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is higher compared to healthy population because of the association of secondary cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Growth Hormone (GH), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and lipid profiles in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly.

Methods: This study included 57 newly diagnosed acromegaly patients and 31 healthy control cases. Blood samples were taken after a 12-hour night fasting to analyze the levels of the hormones, the lipid profiles, and the fasting blood glucose.

Results: The mean of LDL-C level in the acromegaly group and control group were respectively 140.2 +/- 61.3 mg/dL and 115.6 +/- 30.4 mg/dL, (p=0.029), triglyceride level 137.6 +/- 84.0 mg/dL and 102.9 +/- 43.0 mg/dL, (p=0.027) and HDL-C level 41.5 +/- 10.5 mg/dL and 50.5 +/- 10.6 mg/dL, (p=0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between GH levels of LDL (r=0.375, p=0.002), TG (r=0.302, p=0.01), IGF-1 (r=0.634, p=0.0001) and HOMA-IR (r=0.699, p=0.0001), IGF-1 and LDL levels (r=0.295, p=0.01) and TG (r=0.476, p=0.0001). There was a negative correlation between HDL and GH (r=-0.399, p=0.001) and HDL with IGF-1 (r=-0.310, p=0.01).

Conclusions: Acromegaly is a disorder characterized by an excess of GH and GH appears to adversely affect the lipid profile. It can be considered that this risk factor may be eliminated by the control of the levels of GH and IGF-1 in acromegaly patients. Further studies seem necessary for more clarifica-tion.