Assessment of Osteoprotegerin and RANKL Levels and Several Cardiovascular Risk Scoring Systems in Acromegaly

Abstract

Purpose The OPG/RANKL (Osteoprotegerin/Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B) system, which plays a crucial role in bone metabolism, is also associated with vascular calcification. Acromegaly is characterized by excessive secretion of growth hormone and insulin -like growth factor and studies have demonstrated an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with acromegaly. In this study our objective was to investigate the relationship between OPG/RANKL and various cardiovascular risk scoring systems. Methods We recruited 44 consecutive acromegaly patients and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy controls for this study. Results While RANKL levels were significantly higher in the acromegaly group compared to the controls, OPG levels were not found to be significantly different between the two groups, Furthermore, within the acromegaly group, RANKL levels were significantly higher in patients with active acromegaly compared to those with controlled acromegaly. Osteoprotegerin levels showed a positive correlation with Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in the acromegaly group. Linear regression analysis revealed association of OPG with FRS (adjusted R2 value of 21.7%) Conclusion In conclusion, OPG and RANKL may serve as potential markers for assessing cardiovascular calcification and predicting the cardiovascular risk status in acromegalic patients.