Although the present data were not obtained in a formal study we conclude that cabergoline is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for macroprolactinoma patients.

Familial glucocorticoid deficiency is an autosomal recessive syndrome of adrenal unresponsiveness to ACTH characterized by glucocorticoid deficiency, high plasma ACTH levels, and a normal renin-aldosterone axis. Defects of the ACTH receptor have been suggested as a possible cause, and we have previously reported a number of novel mutations of the ACTH receptor gene in some, but not all, cases, suggesting that familial glucocorticoid deficiency may have a heterogeneous molecular etiology. Here we report the clinical features and ACTH receptor gene analysis in four patients from different families. We found that two patients were compound heterozygotes for the S74I and R128C mutations (patient A) and I44M and L192fs frame shift mutations (patient B). The other two patients (C and D) were of different ethnic ancestry, but were both homozygous for a R146H mutation. Segregation studies within families revealed heterozygosity in the parents and several other family members. Human CRH tests in the parents of patients A and B showed normal cortisol and ACTH responses in the S74I, R128C, and I44M heterozygotes and exaggerated cortisol and ACTH responses in the L192fs heterozygote, suggesting that the physiological ACTH increment induced in this test did not reveal evidence of subclinical ACTH resistance, and that this test may not be of value in ascertaining heterozygosity.

Objective: Lanreotide Autogel is a sustained-release aqueous gel formulation supplied in a prefilled syringe, with injection volume , 0.5 ml. The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of Autogel in patients with acromegaly previously treated with octreotide LAR. Design: A 28-week, open, multicentre study. Patients: Twelve patients with acromegaly, treated with 20 mg octreotide LAR for . 4 months, with serum GH levels , 10.0 mU/l. Methods: Autogel (90 mg) was given every 28 days during weeks 0-12. At week 16 the dose was titrated based on GH levels at weeks 8 and 12. If GH levels were ,2.0, 2.0-5.0, or . 5.0 mU/l, Autogel was reduced to 60 mg, maintained at 90 mg, or increased to 120 mg respectively, for the next three injections. GH and IGF-I levels were reassessed at weeks 24 and 28.

This large UK cross-sectional study does not support a clinically concerning association between the use of dopamine agonists for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia and cardiac valvulopathy.

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Objective Pituitary adenoma MRI T2 signal intensity associates with tumor characteristics including responsiveness to somatostatin analogs (SSAs). These analyses determined whether baseline T2 signal intensity predicts response to primary medical treatment with long-acting SSA. Design Post hoc analyses of the prospective multicenter, open-label, single-arm PRIMARYS study in which patients with treatment-naïve GH-secreting pituitary macroadenomas received fixed-dose lanreotide autogel (120 mg) every 4 weeks for 48 weeks. Methods Associations were investigated between adenoma T2-signal hypo/iso/hyperintensity and treatment responses at week 48/last visit: hormonal control (GH ≤2.5 μg/L and IGF-1 normalization); tumor response (tumor volume reduction (TVR) ≥20%); separate GH/IGF-1 control and change from baseline in GH/IGF-1 and tumor volume. Results Adenomas were hypointense at baseline in 50/85 (59%) patients using visual assessment. Of these, 40% achieved hormonal control and 76% achieved a tumor response. Significant univariate associations arose for hypo- vs isointensity with tumor response and achievement of GH ≤2.5 μg/L, but not IGF-1 normalization or overall hormonal control. In multivariate analysis, tumor response was six times more likely for hypo- vs iso-intense tumors (= 6.15; 95% CI: 1.36–27.88). In univariate change-from-baseline analyses, hypo- vs isointensity was associated with greater TVR and IGF-1 reduction but not change in GH. In multivariate analysis, IGF-1 decreased by an estimated additional 65 μg/L (P = 0.0026)) for hypo- vs isointense. Conclusions Patients with hypointense vs isointense GH-secreting macroadenomas had greater reductions in IGF-1 following primary treatment with lanreotide autogel and were more likely to achieve tumor response. Assessment of T2 signal intensity at baseline may help to predict long-term responses to primary treatment with SSAs.

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