Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Sex and age differences among patients with acromegaly
Anna Bogusławska1, Aleksandra Gilis-Januszewska2, Magdalena Godlewska1
1Department of Endocrinology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
Introduction:
Acromegaly is a chronic, slowly progressive disorder caused mostly by growth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). Recently, the associations between sex and age at the time of diagnosis and the course of acromegaly have been a focus of debate.
Objectives:
The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between sex and age at the time of diagnosis of acromegaly and the clinical features, biochemical status, severity of the disease, and comorbidities.
Patients And Methods:
This was a single‑center study conducted in a group of consecutive patients with acromegaly and no family history of PitNETs. The participants were divded into 2 subgroups according to sex (male, female) and 3 subgroups according to age at the time of diagnosis: i) younger (≤40 years), ii) middle‑aged (41-59 years), and iii) elderly patients (≥60 years).
Results:
Our study included 101 patients (41 men, 60 women) who met the eligibility criteria. The mean (SD) age at the time of diagnosis was 47.3 (14.1) years and the median diagnostic delay was 5 years (interquartile range, 3-10). Age at the time of diagnosis and diagnostic delay were not statistically different in men and women. Levels of insulin‑like growth factor 1 (IGF‑1) above the upper limit of age‑adjusted normal range (%ULN IGF‑1) were greater in men than in women (mean [SD], 174.8% [98.9%] vs 109.4% [66.6%]; P = 0.002), while there was no significant difference in terms of %ULN IGF‑1 between the age groups. Median basal and nadir GH levels did not differ between the sexes. Men presented with hypogonadism more frequently than women (54% vs 26%; P = 0.005). Hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadism, and macroadenoma were more frequently observed in the younger patients than in the middle‑aged and elderly individuals (all P <0.05).
Conclusions:
According to our results, hypogonadism and greater IGF‑1 values were more frequently observed in men with acromegaly. Hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadism, and macroadenoma were more frequent in patients with acromegaly aged 40 years or younger.
More Related Videos
08:48Author Spotlight: Exploring the Complexities of Achilles Tendon Injuries — Research and Future Directions
Published on: October 27, 2023
13:18How to Study Basement Membrane Stiffness as a Biophysical Trigger in Prostate Cancer and Other Age-related Pathologies or Metabolic Diseases
Published on: September 20, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
01:28Menopause
01:27Adrenal Gland Disorders
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...