Prostatic hyperplasia more common in acromegaly

Last Updated: 2015-01-29

By Reuters Staff

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men with acromegaly show greater prostatic volume and obstructive features than their counterparts without the condition, according to UK and Indian researchers.

In a paper online now in the European Journal of Endocrinology, Dr. Pinaki Dutta of Queen Mary University, London, and colleagues note that a few studies have reported a higher prevalence of prostate disorders in patients with acromegaly compared with age-matched healthy controls.

To gain further information, the researchers studied 53 men with acromegaly and 50 healthy men matched for age and body mass index.

The acromegaly group had significantly lower testosterone levels (8.9 nmol/L versus 14.3 nmol/L). They had marginally higher International Prostate Symptom Scores and prostate-specific antigen levels. This was also true of grades of enlarged prostate and obstructive features on uroflowmetry. Dimensions of the prostate on ultrasonography were also significantly higher in patients than controls.

In particular, these changes were present irrespective of age, current gonadal status, and disease activity.

In the 14 men in the patient group and the 14 in the control group who were randomly chosen to undergo prostate biopsy, six of the patients showed benign prostatic hyperplasia compared to none of the controls.

The team concedes that among limitations "are small sample size, cross-sectional nature of the study, and lack of long-term follow-up." Moreover, "It is still uncertain, whether prostate disorders may be a clinical concern in patients with acromegaly, since in clinical practice very few patients complain of symptoms related to prostatic hyperplasia or neoplasia."

Nevertheless, they conclude, "In patients with acromegaly, there is a higher frequency of structural changes in prostate, along with greater prostatic volume and obstructive features."

However, they add that "differences in various parameters between acromegaly patients and controls seem to be marginal." Thus a careful prostatic symptom evaluation, supported by trans-rectal ultrasonography may not be required in acromegaly patients. Further studies "on larger populations of acromegaly patients may clarify this."

Dr. Dutta did not respond to requests for comments.

The authors report no external funding or disclosures.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1ERHQDL

Eur J Endocrinol 2015.