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Decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity in acromegalic patients
Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Acromegaly patients show increased insulin release and decreased insulin sensitivity compared to normal weight controls. These metabolic changes, linked to excess growth hormone (GH), resemble those seen in obesity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Acromegaly, characterized by excess growth hormone (GH), is associated with metabolic disturbances.
- Understanding the impact of GH excess on glucose homeostasis is crucial for managing acromegaly-related complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glucose homeostasis in non-diabetic acromegalic patients.
- To compare insulin release and insulin sensitivity in acromegaly patients with matched control groups.
Main Methods:
- Employed the hyperglycaemic clamp technique to assess glucose homeostasis.
- Compared 13 acromegalic patients to sex/age-matched and sex/age/weight-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly increased glucose-stimulated insulin release (I) and decreased insulin sensitivity (M/I) were observed in acromegaly patients compared to normal weight controls.
- No significant differences in these parameters were found when compared to weight-matched controls.
- Insulin release correlated positively with growth hormone (GH) and somatomedin-C levels.
Conclusions:
- Chronic excess growth hormone (GH) in acromegaly appears to induce hyperinsulinemia.
- This hyperinsulinemia may contribute to obesity and metabolic alterations similar to those in obesity.