Growth hormone deficiency is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with prior acromegaly.
BACKGROUND
Both GH deficiency (GHD) and GH excess are associated with a decreased quality of life. However, it is unknown whether patients with GHD after treatment for acromegaly have a poorer quality of life than those with normal GH levels after cure of acromegaly.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine whether patients with GHD and prior acromegaly have a poorer quality of life than those with GH sufficiency after cure of acromegaly.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study in a General Clinical Research Center.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with prior acromegaly participated: 26 with GHD and 19 with GH sufficiency.


METHODS
There were no interventions.


METHODS
We evaluated quality of life, as measured by 1) the Quality of Life Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency Assessment (QoL-AGHDA); 2) the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36); and 3) the Symptom Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Mean scores on all subscales of all questionnaires, except for the anger/hostility and anxiety subscales of the Symptom Questionnaire, showed significantly impaired quality of life in the GH-deficient group compared with the GH-sufficient group. Peak GH levels after GHRH-arginine stimulation levels were inversely associated with QoL-AGHDA scale scores (R = -0.53; P = 0.0005) and the Symptom Questionnaire Depression subscale scores (R = -0.35; P = 0.031) and positively associated with most SF-36 subscale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data are the first to demonstrate a reduced quality of life in patients who develop GHD after cure of acromegaly compared to those who are GH sufficient. Further studies are warranted to determine whether GH replacement would improve quality of life for patients with GHD after cure from acromegaly.
Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Tamara
T
Wexler
Lindsay
L
Gunnell
Zehra
Z
Omer
Karen
K
Kuhlthau
Catherine
C
Beauregard
Gwenda
G
Graham
Andrea L
AL
Utz
Beverly
B
Biller
Lisa
L
Nachtigall
Jay
J
Loeffler
Brooke
B
Swearingen
Anne
A
Klibanski
Karen K
KK
Miller
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I