Calcium Homeostasis in Acromegaly: Effect of Surgical/Medical Treatment and Comparison With Nonfunctioning Pituitary Tumors
Calcium Homeostasis in Acromegaly: Effect of Surgical/Medical Treatment and Comparison With Nonfunctioning Pituitary Tumors
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Calcium homeostasis in adult patients with
 uncontrolled acromegaly. The measurements will be repeated 3-6 months after the treatment of
 acromegaly (surgical or medical). The control group consists of patients with nonfunctioning
 pituitary tumors who will undergo surgical removal.
Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is secreted by the
 parathyroid glands in the neck. Both these chemicals are responsible for keeping the levels
 of calcium and phosphorous normal and also play a role in bone health. They can be measured
 in the blood. In some disorders, PTH or calcitriol levels are elevated, which results in
 increased calcium absorption from the gut, increased calcium in the bloodstream, and
 increased calcium excretion in the urine. Increased calcium in the urine can lead to the
 development of kidney stones. Increased calcium in the bloodstream can have adverse effects
 on the heart, gut, kidneys, and bones.

 Acromegaly is a condition where a pituitary tumor secretes excessive amounts of growth
 hormone. Patients with acromegaly have been found to have a higher prevalence of kidney
 stones, urinary calcium, and serum calcium when compared to normal adults. The reason for
 this is unknown but a suggested mechanism is that growth hormone stimulates the production of
 calcitriol or PTH. If this is true, then treatment of acromegaly resulting in lower growth
 hormone levels should also result in lower blood and urine calcium levels. The investigators
 want to see if patients with acromegaly have high calcitriol, and vitamin D binding protein,
 or PTH levels and see if they change after treatment of the condition. The investigators also
 want to assess the amount of calcium in the urine, before and after treatment.

 Patients with acromegaly may have disorders of bone health. The reason for this is unknown
 but a suggested mechanism is that growth hormone affects bone remodeling. The investigators
 want to see if patients with acromegaly have abnormal bone markers, specifically PINP, CTX,
 and TRAP, and to see if they change after treatment of the condition.

 In order to see if the results are specific to patients with acromegaly, the investigators
 also want to check these levels in patients who do not have acromegaly, but have a
 "nonfunctioning" pituitary tumor. A nonfunctioning pituitary tumor is one that does not
 secrete excessive hormones in the bloodstream.

 The specific aims of this study are:

 1. To describe baseline calcitriol/PTH status in patients with uncontrolled acromegaly.

 2. To assess the change in calcitriol/PTH levels after treatment with acromegaly (surgical
 or medical).

 3. To evaluate the calcium and calcitriol/PTH levels in patients with acromegaly compared
 to patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

 This is a voluntary study. Adult patients with a diagnosis of acromegaly or a clinically
 nonfunctioning pituitary tumor receiving treatment at the Emory University Pituitary center
 will be given the opportunity to enroll in the study. Those that agree to participate will
 need to give written informed consent. Approximately 3 tablespoons (44ml) of blood will be
 drawn at enrollment for testing of vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone. If patients are
 already undergoing a blood draw for standard laboratory tests, then the volume of 44ml of
 blood will be obtained at the same time in order to avoid an additional needle stick. In
 addition, a 24-hour urine collection will be obtained to assess the amount of calcium present
 in the urine. Please note that medical or surgical therapy for your pituitary condition is
 determined by your endocrinologist and/or neurosurgeon and not part of the research study.

 Within 6 months after treatment for pituitary treatment is initiated, when patients return to
 Emory University pituitary clinic for routine visit, laboratory data (vitamin D and
 parathyroid hormone) and repeat urine studies (24 hour urine collection) will be collected.

 The confidentiality will be respected in all encounters. No personal identifiers are
 disclosed in any publications. Hard copy data will be kept securely in a locked office
 building with limited access and electronic data will always be password protected with
 access available to study personnel only. If abnormal results are discovered as part of
 testing done for this study, those results will be released to the patient's primary
 physician. All patients will be undergoing standard therapy for their pituitary disorder.

 Results of this study may have important implications for future studies that are designed to
 evaluate the mechanism of how growth hormone may increase calcitriol levels.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients diagnosed with acromegaly or a nonfunctioning pituitary who will receive
 treatment for the pituitary condition.

 -  Study subjects must agree to participate in this study and provide written consent.

 -  Site- Emory Clinic/Emory University hospital.

 -  Stage of Disease: Patients with active acromegaly that is either newly diagnosed or
 uncontrolled on current therapy (as shown by GH/IGF-1 levels). Patients with
 nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma in whom surgical intervention planned based on
 current guidelines will serve as a control group.

 -  Age: Study subjects must be over 18 years of age.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age < 18 years old

 -  Prior other diseases: Patients chronic renal disease stage 3 or worse (estimated GFR >
 60).