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Markers of early atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with acromegaly

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Abstract

Purpose

Data regarding atherosclerosis in acromegaly is controversial in literature. We aimed to investigate the markers of early atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and their relationships with each other in acromegaly.

Methods

Thirty-nine patients with acromegaly and 40 control subjects were enrolled. Patients were classified into two groups; active acromegaly (AA) and controlled acromegaly (CA). Controls were matched by age, gender, body mass index and presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EAT) were measured and serum levels of oxidative stress parameters, high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and high sensitive CRP (hs CRP) were evaluated.

Results

Significantly decreased FMD, increased CIMT and EAT were found in patients with acromegaly compared to controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). EAT correlated negatively with FMD (r = −0.24, p = 0.038) and positively with CIMT (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Presence of acromegaly, hypertension and age were found to be the predictors of early atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Hs CRP was decreased in AA compared to controls (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences for HMGB1 and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) cholesterol levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) between AA, CA and controls (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Early atherosclerosis measured with FMD, CIMT and EAT may exist in acromegaly. However, decreased hs CRP and unchanged HMGB1, ox-LDL and TAC levels suggest that inflammation and oxidative stress do not seem to contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in these patients.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Sevilay Karahan for her help in statistical analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Cigdem Ozkan, Alev Eroglu Altinova, Ethem Turgay Cerit, Fusun Balos Toruner, Mujde Akturk & Metin Arslan

  2. Department of Cardiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Cagri Yayla & Asife Sahinarslan

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, 06500, Ankara, Turkey

    Duygu Sahin & Aylin Sepici Dincel

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  1. Cigdem Ozkan
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  2. Alev Eroglu Altinova
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Correspondence to Cigdem Ozkan.

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Ozkan, C., Altinova, A.E., Cerit, E.T. et al. Markers of early atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with acromegaly. Pituitary 18, 621–629 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11102-014-0621-6

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