title: Interferon-β treatment associated with a biochemical profile suggestive of acromegaly. A case report of a patient treated for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We describe a 34-year-old female treated with IFN-β for 8 years with a biochemical profile suggestive of acromegaly. The patient presented with elevated serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insufficient suppression of growth hormone (GH) during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). There were no clinical features of acromegaly. A 5-day profile showed higher GH levels on the 3 days following IFN-β injections. Total and bioactive IGF-I were also elevated but did not fluctuate. Four weeks off IFN-β normalized suppression of GH during OGTT but did not reduce serum IGF-I or bioactive IGF-I. In conclusion, IFN-β treatment mimicked acromegaly biochemically. The changes were partially reversible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine O, Endocrine unit, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark. andreassenmikkel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frystyk
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Lars Ø
authors.initials: LØ
authors.lastname: Kristensen
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D004958:Estradiol; D016899:Interferon-beta; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005947:Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone