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Query: UMLS:C0015672 (fatigue)
 51,768 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 40-year-old white woman presented with hirsutism, amenorrhea, generalized fatigue, diffuse weight gain, acral changes, and coarsened facial features. Physical examination revealed mild diastolic hypertension, acromegalic features, hirsutism, and seborrhea. The growth hormone concentration was elevated and did not suppress after glucose administration. Urinary free cortisol excretion was increased and was not suppressed during a 2 mg low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. Magnetic resonance imaging of the sella demonstrated a 1.3 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm pituitary adenoma. Trans-sphenoidal resection was performed, and portions of the resected tumor were analyzed by routine pathologic methods. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings indicated discrete growth hormone- and adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing pituitary adenomas. Coexisting acromegaly and Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary neoplasia was previously reported in two patients. However, to the authors' knowledge, this represents the first description of a patient with acromegaly and Cushing's disease resulting from discrete synchronous adenomas of the pituitary gland as defined by modern histopathologic techniques.
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PMID:Case report: acromegaly and Cushing's disease in a patient with synchronous pituitary adenomas. 144 69

Many endocrine diseases can cause fatigue. Tiredness is a frequent symptom of primary and secondary hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, excessive glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid production, primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, primary and secondary hypogonadism and hyperprolactinemia in the male, acromegaly, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. A great number of medical diseases other than those mentioned in the articles on cardiological and pneumological fatigue can also cause abnormal tiredness (infectious diseases, hematological, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal and rheumatological disturbances, vasculitis and malignant tumors). The pathogenesis of tiredness caused by endocrine or medical illnesses, i.e. how the sensation of fatigue is produced, is not clear. The fatigue of the various endocrine or other medical diseases is not disease-specific, i.e. its characteristics do not differentiate it from the fatigue of other illnesses.
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PMID:[Endocrine and other medical causes of abnormal fatigability]. 175 71

Daytime somnolence and fatigue are frequently ignored symptoms in acromegaly. To examine whether sleep apnea or other abnormalities in the sleep structure is the underlying cause, 9 young patients with active untreated acromegaly for 2-7 years were studied with all night polysomnography. It revealed a decrease in REM sleep time in all the acromegalics compared to age- and sex-matched normal subjects (p less than 0.001) and also a reduction in delta sleep (p less than 0.05). None had obstructive sleep apnea. At reexamination 12-15 months posttreatment the daytime sleepiness had disappeared in all patients. REM sleep time increased in all patients (p less than 0.001) to normal level; delta sleep time increased moderately (p less than 0.05). Thus sleepiness in patients with high fasting level of growth hormone (GH) is not related to sleep apnea but more likely to a reduced amount of REM sleep time. By normalizing the GH concentration, REM sleep time became normal and the daytime sleepiness disappeared in all patients.
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PMID:Sleep in acromegaly before and after treatment with adenomectomy. 204 66

Important technical and clinical progress has been achieved in neuroendocrinological diagnostic investigations in recent years. Patients with active acromegaly and without a total loss of pituitary anterior lobe function can now be defined. With the help of neuroradiological investigations the intra-, supra- and parasellar extent of the adenoma can be determined. For the following study we selected patients with active acromegaly without a significant reduction of the other pituitary anterior lobe functions and with intrasellar adenomas. 31 patients with active acromegaly were examined before the operation. These patients have uniform psychopathological symptoms including loss of drive, affective disorders such as dejection, brooding, and irritability, and increase in appetite and loss of libido. The psychopathological symptoms are dependent neither on the level of the increased growth hormone nor on hyperprolactinemia. The higher cortical functions are intact. No disorders of intelligence or memory can be found. Disturbances of mental functions are manifested as disorders of concentration and fatigue. Personality traits were strikingly uniform. Their personalities are characterized by conscientiousness, reliability and industriousness. Some patients are also anxious and lacking in self-confidence. The personality traits of the patients become more pronounced as a result of the illness. The continuous development of the patients corresponds to the personality traits. Changes in personality, in particular those caused by organic brain disease were not found. Because we applied strict criteria to the selection of our patients we conclude that the uniform psychopathological symptoms and the uniform personality traits of the patients are an essential element of the clinical picture of active acromegaly.
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PMID:[Psychopathologic symptoms and personality traits in patients with florid acromegaly]. 244 68

One hundred and three acromegalic patients from 14 medical centers were enrolled in this study to determine the efficacy and safety of the somatostatin analog, octreotide acetate, during long term treatment. Seventy percent of the patients had undergone previous surgery or radiation treatment. Octreotide was initiated at a dose of 100 micrograms, sc, every 8 h and gradually increased to a maximum of 1500 micrograms daily depending upon the individual patient's clinical and biochemical response [GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) reduction]. The mean duration of treatment was 24 months (range, 3-30 months). However, most patients were treated for a mean of 30 months, because this study took place after an initial 6-month study previously reported. Mean serum GH fell from 30.9 micrograms/L (range, 2.7-350) to 5.7 micrograms/L (range, 0.6-59) at the 3 months visit and remained suppressed (P < 0.001). Plasma IGF-I concentrations were also significantly reduced and remained in the normal range for at least half of the treatment visits in 56 of 87 patients (64%) treated for 12-30 months. Patients with higher initial GH concentrations were less likely to normalize IGF-I concentrations during treatment (P < 0.001). There was no evidence of drug tachyphylaxis in those patients who continued taking stable doses of medication. With some exceptions, dose increments above 800 micrograms daily in 31 patients did not provide additional benefit in terms of GH and IGF-I reduction. Headache, excessive perspiration, fatigue, and joint pain were ameliorated in 83-95% of patients. Mean finger circumference was decreased significantly at the 12 month visit (P < 0.05). The most common adverse events reported were diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, loose stools, and nausea; these symptoms usually disappeared within 3 months of treatment. Five patients discontinued octreotide because of adverse events. Of 102 patients with normal baseline ultrasound examinations of the gallbladder, 24 patients (23.5%) developed gallstones (usually during the first year of treatment), and 21 patients developed sludge alone. Gallstone formation was not related to the dose of octreotide. Most patients with cholelithiasis were asymptomatic, and none developed cholecystitis. These observations suggest that octreotide is a valuable long term medical treatment for acromegaly.
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PMID:Safety and efficacy of long-term octreotide therapy of acromegaly: results of a multicenter trial in 103 patients--a clinical research center study. 767 22

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for impaired consciousness, hyperglycemia and bitemporal hemianopsia. She was diagnosed as having NIDDM one year ago and was treated with diet and glibenclamide (1.25 mg/day) for 6 months. However, she stopped her medical treatment one month ago and then polydipsia and general fatigue were manifested. She was admitted to a hospital five days ago at which time hyperglycemia (405 mg/dl) and anemia (Hb8.0g/dl) were detected. She was transferred to our hospital for control of blood glucose and further examination of bitemporal hemianopsia. She showed typical acromegalic features including enlargement of the nose, lips and tongue, increased heel pad and acral growth. Conscious disturbance was cured by the infusion of saline and the administration of insulin. Endoscopy revealed an active gastric ulcer (A1). Endocrine data disclosed increased GH levels in plasma and urine, whereas plasma IGF-1 levels were low. Plasma GH paradoxically increased following the administration of TRH. A water deprivation test showed an impaired increase in urinary osmolarity, indicating partial central diabetes insipidus (DI). MRI with Gd-contrast revealed a macroadenoma which progressed toward suprasella. She was diagnosed as having acromegaly, partial DI and probable hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic diabetic pre-coma. Polyuria (5-101/day) due to partial DI was controlled by the administration of DDAVP (10 micrograms/day). The constant subcutaneous administration of octreotide (240 micrograms/day) resulted in normal plasma GH levels and a marked shrinkage of the pituitary tumor. The pituitary tumor was finally removed by the transsphenoidal approach following treatment with octreotide for 4 months. HE staining of the pituitary tumor showed atrophic and acidophilic cells surrounded by hyaloid connective tissue. After the surgery, plasma GH levels were normalized and complications were cured. In conclusion, this is a very rare case of acromegaly associated with diabetic pre-coma and partial DI, and effectively treated with constant subcutaneous infusion of octreotide.
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PMID:[Effective treatment with constant subcutaneous infusion of octreotide in a patient with acromegaly associated with diabetic pre-coma and diabetes insipidus]. 785 21

Two acromegalic patients suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome were treated with the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide. Daytime sleepiness and fatigue improved within a few days. Repeat sleep studies performed after octreotide treatment revealed more confluent sleep with a shorter duration of sleep apnoea. Nocturnal hypoxaemia improved in one patient. Octreotide might be an effective noninvasive treatment for sleep apnoea of acromegaly.
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PMID:Improvement of sleep apnoea due to acromegaly during short-term treatment with octreotide. 804 24

Octreotide is a somatostatin analogue: a long-acting release (LAR) formulation of octreotide is designed for once-monthly intramuscular administration. As with native somatostatin, octreotide LAR exerts potent inhibitory effects on the secretion of growth hormone and on various peptides of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system. When patients with acromegaly who show a positive response to treatment with subcutaneous octreotide 300 to 600 micrograms/day are switched to octreotide LAR 20 or 30 mg, the resulting decrease in growth hormone levels is stable and sustained. Reductions in growth hormone levels to < 5 micrograms/L for about 4 weeks are seen in 86 to 100% of patients, to < 2 to 2.5 micrograms/L in 39 to 75% and to < 1 microgram/L in 24 to 40%. Levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) decrease in parallel and are often normalised with repeated drug treatment. There is no evidence of tachyphylaxis with long term therapy (up to 34 months). Treatment with octreotide LAR improves facial appearance and soft tissue thickening, and eliminates or reduces the incidence of symptoms such as headache, fatigue, arthralgia and excessive perspiration. Tumour shrinkage has been noted in some, but not all, patients receiving octreotide LAR, although this has not been widely evaluated in clinical studies. Overall, octreotide LAR is well tolerated, and the mild to moderate gastrointestinal events experienced by up to 50% of patients are of short duration and often subside with continued drug administration. The incidence of gallbladder abnormalities (sediment, sludge, microlithiasis and gallstones) increases in patients receiving long term therapy with subcutaneous octreotide, although most patients remain asymptomatic. The incidence of gallbladder abnormalities in patients receiving octreotide LAR compares favourably with that during subcutaneous administration. Glycaemic control is not usually altered during octreotide LAR treatment. In summary, octreotide continues to be the principal pharmacological option for most patients with acromegaly. Octreotide LAR offers the convenience of once-monthly administration compared with daily subcutaneous drug administration. In addition, the good efficacy and tolerability profile of octreotide LAR should enhance patient compliance and acceptability of octreotide therapy and contribute to an improvement in patient quality of life.
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PMID:Octreotide long-acting release (LAR). A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in the management of acromegaly. 909 66

The effects of octreotide (up to 5 yr) as primary treatment in 26 patients with acromegaly were compared with those in 81 patients with acromegaly who received octreotide as secondary or adjunctive therapy after previous surgery and/or pituitary radiation. These patients were part of a multicenter study that took place between 1989-1995. The study was divided into 3 phases beginning with a 1-month placebo-controlled treatment period followed by a 1-month washout period. In the second phase, patients were randomized to treatment with either 100 or 250 micrograms octreotide, sc, every 8 h for 6 months. Octreotide was then discontinued for 1 month and reinitiated at the lower dose for a total mean treatment duration of 39 months. The dose was titrated by each investigator to improve each patient's individual response, which included improvement in symptoms and signs of acromegaly as well as reduction of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) into the normal range. In the second phase of the study, in which patients were randomized to either 100 or 250 micrograms octreotide, three times daily, mean integrated GH and IGF-I concentrations after 3 and 6 months were equivalent in the primary and secondary treatment groups. During long term open label treatment, mean GH fell from 32.7 +/- 5.2 to 6.0 +/- 1.7 micrograms/L 2 h after octreotide injection in the primary therapy group and remained suppressed for a mean period of 24 months (range, 3-60 months). The mean final daily dose was 777 micrograms. In the patients receiving secondary treatment, mean GH fell from 30.2 +/- 7.6 to 5.6 +/- 1.1 micrograms/L after 3 months and remained suppressed for the remainder of the study (average dose, 635 micrograms daily). Mean IGF-I concentrations fell from 5.2 +/- 0.5 x 10(3) U/L (primary treatment group) and 4.7 +/- 0.4 x 10(3) U/L (secondary treatment group) to a mean of 2.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(3) U/L in both groups after 3 months of open label treatment and remained suppressed. IGF-I was reduced into the normal range during at least half of the study visits in 68% of the primary treatment group and in 62% of the secondary treatment group. Patients whose GH levels fell to at least 2 SD below the baseline mean GH were considered responders. There was no significant difference in the percentage of responders in the primary and secondary treatment groups (70% vs. 61%), nor was there a statistical difference in the mean GH concentrations between the groups. Symptoms of headache, increased perspiration, fatigue, and joint pain were reported at baseline by 46%, 73%, 69%, and 85%, respectively, of patients in the primary therapy group and improved during 3 yr of octreotide treatment in 50-100%. Similarly, these acromegaly-related symptoms were reported by 62%, 58%, 78%, and 60% of patients in the secondary therapy group, and improvement was noted in 62-88%. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging scans were available in 13 of 26 patients in the primary treatment group before and after 6 months of octreotide treatment. Tumor shrinkage was observed in 6 of 13 patients, with reduction in tumor volume greater than 25% in only 3. Of 6 patients with documented tumor shrinkage, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 4 patients. Of the 7 remaining patients in whom tumor shrinkage was less than 10%, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 4 patients. Of the 7 remaining patients in whom tumor shrinkage was less than 10%, IGF-I was reduced into the normal range in 5 patients. The degree of tumor shrinkage did not correlate with the percent reduction in IGF-I or GH. In summary, octreotide was equally effective in 26 previously untreated acromegalic patients (primary treatment group) and 81 patients previously treated with either surgery or pituitary radiation (secondary treatment group). These observations call into question the current practice of surgical resection of all newly diagnosed GH-secreting pituitary adenomas regardless of the likelihood of cure. (AB
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PMID:Octreotide as primary therapy for acromegaly. 974 96

In this open sequential study we evaluated the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of the i.m. administration of slow release lanreotide 30 mg (SRL) in 18 acromegalics (7 M/11 F, age 50.9+/-12.7 yr). Baseline mean GH and IGF-1 levels were 15.8+/-6.6 ng/ml and 702+/-74 ng/ml, respectively. Four hours, 1, 7, and 14 days after SRL, mean GH levels were 8.9+/-5.9 (p < 0.005), 11.4+/-6.9 (p < 0.05), 9.1+/-4.5 (p < 0.05), and 9.1+/-4.1 ng/ml (p < 0.05), respectively; and the IGF-1 values at 1, 7, and 14 days were 624+/-77 (p < 0.05), 555+/-83 (p < 0.001), and 467+/-58 ng/ml (p < 0.0001), respectively. Four hours after SRL administration GH was < 2.5 ng/ml in 11 patients and decreased 85% of the basal value, without normalizing, in another case. In the following 2 weeks, 7 and 2 patients maintained GH < 2.5 ng/ ml or < 50% of baseline; 3 and 2 of them attained IGF-1 values in the normal range or < 50% of basal levels. A patient developed acute pancreatitis after the injection of the drug and therefore stopped the treatment. Another patient did not continue SRL, and she was turned on octreotide, s.c. administered (OCT), because only the latter treatment ameliorated significantly the headache. In 16/18 patients the treatment was continued until the 24th month. SRL was administered every 14 days until the 24th month in 3 cases, whereas in 13 patients the dose schedule was increased every 10 days since the 7th month because they did not normalize serum GH and IGF-1 levels. In these 16 patients baseline GH and IGF-1 levels were 10.0+/-2.5 ng/ml and 671+/-75 ng/ml, respectively. At the 1st, 3rd, and 6th month of treatment mean GH levels fell to 5.4+/-1.4 (p < 0.05), 5.3+/-1.8 (p < 0.05), and 5.0+/-1.6 (p < 0.05) ng/ml, respectively; and IGF-1 declined to 511+/-87 (p < 0.005), 565+/-85 (p < 0.05), and 525+/-94 (p < 0.01) ng/ml, respectively. Throughout the first semester GH was < 2.5 ng/ml in 5 patients and decreased > 50% in another three. IGF-1 levels normalized in 3/5. Throughout the following 18 months of treatment, mean GH (3.4+/-1.0 ng/ml) and IGF-1 (413+/-75 ng/ml) values decreased significantly in comparison with both the baseline concentrations (GH p < 0.01, IGF-1 p < 0.001) and the levels measured during the 1st semester of treatment (GH p < 0.05, IGF-1 p < 0.001). GH remained < 2.5 ng/ml in 11 patients, and in 8/11 cases IGF-1 fell in the normal range. Serum GH and IGF-1 levels decreased by more than 50% of baseline levels in 2 other cases. At MRI, pituitary adenoma was no longer evident in one patient previously treated with OCT and significantly decreased in another patient previously treated with surgery plus radiotherapy, as well as in a patient previously untreated. During treatment the percentage of patients complaining of headache and fatigue decreased significantly (chi2, p < 0.05 and p < 0.0005, respectively). Overall, the headache (p < 0.005), arthralgia (p < 0.05), and paresthesia (p < 0.01) ameliorated significantly. Ultrasound scan showed gallbladder sludge or sand-like stones in 5/11 patients. This study, which is one of the longest surveys on a relatively large series of acromegalics treated with SRL, confirms the long-term effectiveness of this drug for the treatment of patients with active acromegaly. SRL decreases significantly GH and IGF-1 in most cases and induces the shrinkage of the pituitary tumor in some patients previously either untreated or both treated for acromegaly. SRL improves significantly clinical symptoms and it is well tolerated.
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PMID:Results of a two-year treatment with slow release lanreotide in acromegaly. 1089 51


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