Serum biomarkers of acromegaly

Acromegaly is an endocrine disorder, usually occurring as a result of a growth hormone (GH) producing pituitary adenoma, characterized by elevated serum levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). If left untreated or poorly controlled, premature mortality could occur as a result of cardiovascular diseases.

The primary treatment for acromegaly is transsphenoidal surgery. GH-secreting microadenomas are usually successfully removed by surgery, whereas the outcome is less favourable with larger tumors. Therefore, assessment of the surgical outcome is important, but no ideal biomarker is currently available.

Cruz-Topete et al. performed experiments on newly diagnosed acromegaly patients to identify serum biomarkers associated with acromegaly before and after transsphenoidal adenomectomy.

They found seven serum protein spots that were differentially expressed following surgery in acromegalic patients. The identified proteins represent potential novel biomarkers to assess the effectiveness of surgical treatment in acromegalic individuals. Cruz-Topete et al. (2011) European Journal of Endocrinology 164 157-167.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/EJE-10-0754.