Long-term treatment of acromegaly with bromocriptine.
Treatment with bromocriptine, 30-55 mg daily, in 13 acromegalics for 1-15 months, resulted in a 60% decrease in growth hormone secretion, as judged from the excretion of growth hormone in 24-h urine. Normal excretion was obtained in 10 patients, while 1 patient showed no response. The plasma growth hormone response to O-GTT was improved, but not normalized, in 4 of 7 patients treated for more than 6 months, and marked glucosuria disappeared in two diabetics. While the secretion of TSH, LH and FSH was unchanged, the prolactin secretion was inhibited. The urine excretion of free cortisol showed a 30% decrease, possibly due to a direct effect of bromocriptine on the ACTH-secretion. Hypercalcaemia was never seen, but the initial hypercalcuria showed a modest decrease without measurable changes in the creatinine clearance. The subjective relief during long-term treatment was marked in 10 of 11 patients and the dominating symptoms disappeared in 40-67%, whereas heal-pad thickness, enlarged sellae, and visual fields remained unchanged. No serious side effects were observed. Treatment with bromocriptine seems effective and should be considered as a remedy amongst others, in suitable cases of acromegaly.
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006029:Glycosuria; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D002118:Calcium; D006854:Hydrocortisone