Low Bone Density and High Sclerostin in Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma

Sclerostin reduces bone formation by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway in bone tissue. This study evaluated the serum sclerostin level in non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) patients and analyzed its relationship with bone metabolism.

The data of the patients who applied to the Dicle University Endocrinology, diagnosed with non-functioning pituitary adenoma, and the control group consisting of healthy individuals were included in the study. Serum sclerostin levels and DXA analysis parameters were evaluated and compared with healthy control groups.

The study consisted of 39 patients (F / M: 27/12) with NFPA (patient group) and 43 control groups (F / M: 26/17). There was no difference in terms of gender, age, height, weight and serum calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, 25-OH vitamin D, parathyroid hormone levels. Serum sclerostin levels (32.31 ± 1.53 ng / ml) in the patient group was found to be significantly higher than the control group (22.45 ± 8.9 ng / ml) (p < 0.001). BMD (Patients groups vs control group); total lumbar BMD (0.951-1.56 gr / cm2) (p < 0.001), femoral neck BMD (0.752-1.15 g / cm2) (p < 0.001), femoral total BMD (0.995- 1.63 gr / cm2) (p < 0.001), were found to be statistically significantly lower.

This study provides the first evidence that serum sclerostin levels were increased in non-functioning pituitary adenomas, which showed that bone parameters were negatively affected.