The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Hypothalamic involvement predicts cardiovascular risk in adults with childhood onset craniopharyngioma on long-term GH therapy.

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Context: Craniopharyngioma patients without GH therapy are at an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and particularly concerning women. No previous study on long-term GH therapy in adults with childhood onset (CO) craniopharyngioma was identified. Objective: To investigate CVD risk in adults with CO craniopharyngioma, on complete hormone replacement, including long-term GH therapy, and to investigate the impact of disease-related factors on CVD risk. Design and Participants: In a cross-sectional study of operated CO craniopharyngiomas (1958-2000) from a defined area of Sweden (2.5 million) we enrolled 42 patients (20 women) with a median age 28 (range 17-57) years and assessed CVD risk 20 (4-40) years after first operation. Comparisons were made with matched controls and between patients with tumour growth into the third ventricle (TGTV) vs non-TGTV. GH therapy was 10-12 years in women and men. Results: In comparison to controls, both male and female patients had increased BMI, fat mass, insulin and leptin levels. Overall, while not significantly increased in male patients, 55-60% of female patients had a medium-high CVD risk, compared to 10-20% in controls. An increased CVD risk (all P < 0.05) and higher levels of fat mass and insulin were recorded in the TGTV group vs the non-TGTV group. Late puberty induction and lack of androgens were shown in female patients. Conclusions: Adult patients with CO craniopharyngioma, especially those with TGTV, have persistently increased CVD risk. Conventional hormone substitution, including GH, is insufficient to normalize CVD risk, suggesting an important role for irreversible hypothalamic dysfunction.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

671-679

Publication/Series

European Journal of Endocrinology

Volume

161

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Society of the European Journal of Endocrinology

Topic

  • Endocrinology and Diabetes

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1479-683X