Cornea in Acromegalic Patients As a Possible Target of Growth Hormone Action

Overview

Journal J Endocrinol Invest

Publisher Springer

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2010 Jul 24

PMID 20651471

Citations 15

Authors

A Ciresi

M C Amato

D Morreale

G Lodato

A Galluzzo

C Giordano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: GH exerts its effects on many organs and the eye also seems to be a target site, although few authors have investigated the corneal thickness in patients with acromegaly.

Aim: To perform a detailed ophthalmological evaluation in acromegalic patients, in relation to disease activity.

Material And Methods: Twenty-eight acromegalic patients (11 males, 17 females) and 22 voluntary healthy subjects underwent complete metabolic and ophthalmological evaluation, including retinal thickness (RT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and intraocular pressure values (IOP).

Results: Significantly greater CCT values were found in all acromegalic patients in comparison with controls (567 vs 528.5 μm; p<0.001), without concomitant greater corrected IOP. No difference was found for RT. Analyzing these data according to disease activity, uncontrolled patients showed greater CCT values (573.5 vs 559 μm; p=0.002) and corrected IOP (17.4 vs 16 mmHg; p=0.001) than the controlled ones. CCT also correlated with basal and nadir GH after oral glucose load levels, IGF-I levels, and duration of active disease.

Conclusions: Acromegaly is characterized by greater CCT values, supporting the hypothesis that GH excess may have stimulatory effects on the cornea as well as on other target organs. Higher GH levels, disease control status and duration of active disease seem to be the main causes of increased corneal thickness. We suggest a careful and detailed corneal evaluation in acromegalic patients to prevent the potential risk of increased IOP, in addition to the already-known complications.

Citing Articles

Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in Patients with Acromegaly versus Healthy Controls: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kober A, Sobol M Vision (Basel). 2024; 8(3).

PMID: 39311322 PMC: 11417876. DOI: 10.3390/vision8030054.

Corneal Tonometric and Morphological Changes in Patients with Acromegaly.

Skrzypiec I, Wierzbowska J, Sobol M, Zielinski G J Clin Med. 2022; 11(22).

PMID: 36431227 PMC: 9696636. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226750.

Sex Hormones, Growth Hormone, and the Cornea.

McKay T, Priyadarsini S, Karamichos D Cells. 2022; 11(2).

PMID: 35053340 PMC: 8773647. DOI: 10.3390/cells11020224.

Choroidal thickness measurements in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency.

Yalcin N, Aktas Z, Yuce O, Ikiz G, Hasanreisoglu M, Bideci A Eye (Lond). 2017; 32(2):364-369.

PMID: 28912516 PMC: 5811713. DOI: 10.1038/eye.2017.194.

Differential Effects of Hormones on Cellular Metabolism in Keratoconus In Vitro.

McKay T, Hjortdal J, Sejersen H, Karamichos D Sci Rep. 2017; 7:42896.

PMID: 28211546 PMC: 5314412. DOI: 10.1038/srep42896.

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