A Prospective Study of Outcome After Therapy for Acromegaly
A Prospective Study of Outcome After Therapy for Acromegaly
The purpose of this study is to evaluate hormone values and other markers of disease activity
 in a cohort of patients with acromegaly at the time of diagnosis and then prospectively after
 surgical or other treatment. This study is designed to determine blood levels of growth
 hormone and related hormones and cardiovascular risk markers as well as signs and symptoms of
 the disease at diagnosis and how these parameters change over time after surgical or other
 therapy. The investigators will also obtain hormonal data in a group of 50 healthy subjects
 who will each be studied just once with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). These data
 will provide a comparison group to the acromegaly subjects.
Surgical removal of the pituitary tumor is the usual first form of treatment offered, but
 this is curative in only approximately 70% of patients. If not adequately treated, the
 disease can have significant morbidity largely due to the development of hypertension,
 diabetes and malignancy as well as possible loss of vision or other neurologic complications
 of a large pituitary mass. Inadequately treated acromegaly is also associated with a
 mortality rate 2-3 fold over the general population. All the mechanisms responsible for the
 increased morbidity and mortality in acromegaly as well as what biochemical criteria should
 be used during treatment in order to normalize the increased morbidity and mortality are not
 known. This study aims to follow patients with acromegaly prospectively from active disease
 through treatment in order to identify these factors.
Acromegaly Subjects

 Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Adult males and females.

 -  Ages 18 and over.

 -  Presenting to the PI or one of the sub-investigators for evaluation of acromegaly.

 -  Must have a biochemical diagnosis of acromegaly consisting of an elevated serum
 insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level. Supportive although not required for entry
 are an elevated growth hormone (GH) level and a failure of GH to suppress normally
 after oral glucose administration.

 -  Willingness to participate in this study's procedures.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects who are unwilling to comply with the procedures outlined in the study.

 -  Subjects who do not have the ability to fully comprehend the nature of the study, to
 follow instructions, and/or cooperate with study procedures

 -  Are unwilling to provide informed consent to participate in the study.

 Healthy Subjects

 Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Adult males and females.

 -  Ages 18 and over.

 -  Responding to ads for participation or by word of mount.

 -  No medical problems, no medications, stable weight for 3 months prior to study.

 -  Willingness to participate in this study's procedures.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects who are unwilling to comply with the procedures outlined in the study.

 -  Subjects who do not have the ability to fully comprehend the nature of the study, to
 follow instructions, and/or cooperate with study procedures

 -  Are unwilling to provide informed consent to participate in the study.

 -  Failure to meet the inclusion criteria.