Our study supports a positive association between low-grade inflammation and diabetes in a population-based sample of men and women without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, which is independent of demographic, clinical and lifestyle characteristics, including physical activity and dietary factors.

Microprolactinomas are the most common pituitary adenomas. In symptomatic patients, dopamine agonists are the first-line treatment of choice; when cabergoline is used, biochemical control rates between 85 and 93% have been reported. Long-term treatment is needed in most of the cases with compliance, patient convenience, and potential adverse effects representing areas requiring attention. Based on the literature published in the past 15 years, transsphenoidal surgery can lead to normal prolactin in the postoperative period in usually 71 -100% of the cases with very low postoperative complication rates. Surgical expertise is the major determinant of the outcomes, and it may be a cost-effective option in young patients with life expectancy greater than 10 years (provided it is performed by experienced surgeons at high volume centers with confirmed optimal outcomes). Larger series of patients with adequate follow-up could further validate the place of transsphenoidal surgery (particularly through the endoscopic approach for which long-term results are currently limited) in the management algorithm of patients with microprolactinoma. 175:3R89-R96 M Tampourlou and others Surgery for microprolactinomas

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Patients with regrown CNFA after primary treatment continue to carry considerable risk of tumor progression, necessitating long-term follow-up. Management approach to the regrowth was the major factor determining this risk; monitoring had >60% risk of progression at 5 years, and a substantial number of patients ultimately required intervention.

Prolactin normalized over time in nearly half of the women and serum PRL 6-12 months after DA withdrawal is useful predictor. Nonetheless, 7% of the patients demonstrated adenoma regrowth which, given the life expectancy postmenopause, necessitate regular monitoring of the cases with persistent hyperprolactinaemia.

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFA) are benign pituitary neoplasms not associated with clinical evidence of hormonal hypersecretion. A substantial number of patients with NFA have morbidities related to the tumor and possible recurrence(s), as well as to the treatments offered. Studies assessing the long-term mortality of patients with NFA are limited. Based on the published literature of the last two decades, overall, the standardized mortality ratios in this group suggest mortality higher than that of the general population with deaths attributed mainly to circulatory, respiratory and infectious causes. Women seem to have higher mortality ratios, and assessment of time trends suggests improvement over the years. There is no consensus on predictive factors of mortality but those most consistently identified are older age at diagnosis and high doses of glucocorticoid substitution therapy. Well designed and of adequate power studies are needed to establish the significance of factors compromising the survival of patients with NFA and to facilitate improvements in long-term prognosis.

The clinical phenotype of prolactinomas diagnosed in the postmenopausal period is characterized by dominance of macroadenomas, with frequent supra/parasellar extension and a relative high rate of acute pituitary apoplexy. In this group of patients, the response of the macroadenomas to dopamine agonists is good.

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