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Milou Cecilia Madsen Department of Internal Medicine and Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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Martin den Heijer Department of Internal Medicine and Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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Claudia Pees Walaeus Library, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

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Nienke R Biermasz Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

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Leontine E H Bakker Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

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Testosterone therapy is the cornerstone in the care of men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Gel and intramuscular injections are most frequently used and are registered and included in the international guidelines. The specific preparation should be selected according to the patient’s preference, cost, availability, and formulation-specific properties. As the majority of men with hypogonadism and transgender males require lifelong treatment with testosterone, it is important to utilize a regimen that is effective, safe, inexpensive, and convenient to use with optimal mimicking of the physiological situation. This systematic review reviews current literature on differences between the three most used testosterone preparations in adult men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Although it appeared hardly any comparative studies have been carried out, there are indications of differences between the preparations, for example, on the stability of testosterone levels, hematocrit, bone mineral density, and patient satisfaction. However, there are no studies on the effects of testosterone replacement on endpoints such as cardiovascular disease in relation to hematocrit or osteoporotic fractures in relation to bone mineral density. The effect of testosterone therapy on health-related quality of life is strongly underexposed in the reviewed studies, while this is a highly relevant outcome measure from a patient perspective. In conclusion, current recommendations on testosterone treatment appear to be based on data primarily from non-randomized clinical studies and observational studies. The availability of reliable comparative data between the different preparations will assist in the process of individual decision-making to choose the most suitable formula.

Open access
Georgios Kontogeorgos Section for Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, Gothenburg, Sweden
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Zoi Mamasoula Section for Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, Gothenburg, Sweden
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Emily Krantz Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Penelope Trimpou Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Section for Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Kerstin Landin-Wilhelmsen Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Section for Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Christine M Laine Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Endocrine Out-Patient Clinic, Carlanderska Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Objective

Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is a rare endocrine disorder in which insufficient levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) lead to low serum calcium (S-Ca) levels and muscular cramps. The aim was to study the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and comorbidities in patients with HypoPT compared with the general population and to estimate the need of treatment with PTH analog.

Design

Patients with HypoPT were identified and compared with a population sample. Short Form-36 (SF-36) and EuroQol-5 Dimensions Visual Analogue Scale questionnaires were used. All patients were followed up at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital outpatient clinic.

Methods

From the medical records between 2007 and 2020, 203 patients with HypoPT were identified and compared with a population sample (n = 414) from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) MONICA project, Gothenburg, Sweden. Of the 203 patients who met the diagnostic criteria, 164 were alive and 65% answered the HRQoL questionnaires.

Results

Patients with HypoPT, 80% postsurgical, and controls had similar age (60 years) and sex distribution (80% women). Patients had lower SF-36 summary component scores for physical (40.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 21) vs 51.2 (IQR: 14.6); P < 0.001) and mental (43.1 (IQR:17.4) vs 56.1(IQR:13.3); P < 0.001) well-being, irrespective of etiology or calcium levels. Individuals with HypoPT had more medications and lower renal function but not higher mortality than controls. Low HRQoL together with low calcium was present in 23% of individuals with HypoPT.

Conclusion

HRQoL was markedly lower in patients with HypoPT than in controls and independent of S-Ca levels. Treatment with PTH analog could be considered at least among patients with both low HRQoL and low calcium levels.

Open access
Henryk F Urbanski Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Kevin Mueller Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

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Cynthia L Bethea Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Like women, old female rhesus macaques undergo menopause and show many of the same age-associated changes, including perturbed activity/rest cycles and altered circulating levels of many hormones. Previous studies showed that administration of an estrogen agonist increased activity in female monkeys, that hormone therapy (HT) increased activity in postmenopausal women and that obesity decreased activity in women. The present study sought to determine if postmenopausal activity and circulating hormone levels also respond to HT when monkeys are fed a high-fat, high-sugar Western style diet (WSD). Old female rhesus macaques were ovo-hysterectomized (OvH) to induce surgical menopause and fed a WSD for 2 years. Half of the animals received estradiol-17β (E), beginning immediately after OvH, while the other half received placebo. Animals in both groups showed an increase in body weight and a decrease in overall activity levels. These changes were associated with a rise in both daytime and nocturnal serum leptin concentrations, but there was no change in serum concentrations of either cortisol or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). These data suggest that 2 years of HT has little or no effect on locomotor activity or circadian hormone patterns in menopausal macaques fed an obesogenic diet.

Open access
Leyre Lorente-Poch Endocrine Surgery Unit, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Departament de Cirurgia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Sílvia Rifà-Terricabras Departament de Cirurgia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Juan José Sancho Endocrine Surgery Unit, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Departament de Cirurgia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Danilo Torselli-Valladares Endocrine Surgery Unit, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

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Sofia González-Ortiz Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

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Antonio Sitges-Serra Endocrine Surgery Unit, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Departament de Cirurgia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Objective:

Permanent hypoparathyroidism is an uncommon disease resulting most frequently from neck surgery. It has been associated with visceral calcifications but few studies have specifically this in patients with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of basal ganglia and carotid artery calcifications in patients with long-term post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism compared with a control population.

Design:

Case–control study.

Methods:

A cross-sectional review comparing 29 consecutive patients with permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism followed-up in a tertiary reference unit for Endocrine Surgery with a contemporary control group of 501 patients who had an emergency brain CT scan. Clinical variables and prevalence of basal ganglia and carotid artery calcifications were recorded.

Results:

From a cohort of 46 patients diagnosed with permanent hypoparathyroidism, 29 were included in the study. The mean duration of disease was 9.2 ± 7 years. Age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and dyslipidemia were similarly distributed in case and control groups. The prevalence of carotid artery and basal ganglia calcifications was 4 and 20 times more frequent in patients with permanent hypoparathyroidism, respectively. After propensity score matching of the 28 the female patients, 68 controls were matched for age and presence of cardiovascular factors. Cases showed a four-fold prevalence of basal ganglia calcifications, whereas that of carotid calcifications was similar between cases and controls.

Conclusion:

A high prevalence of basal ganglia calcifications was observed in patients with post-surgical permanent hypoparathyroidism. It remains unclear whether carotid artery calcification may also be increased.

Open access
Anping Su Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Yanping Gong Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Wenshuang Wu Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Rixiang Gong Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Zhihui Li Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Jingqiang Zhu
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Background

The effect of parathyroid autotransplantation on hypoparathyroidism is not fully understood. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of autotransplantation of a parathyroid gland on the incidence of hypoparathyroidism and recovery of parathyroid function at 6 months after total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Methods

All patients with autotransplantation of a parathyroid gland (no inadvertent parathyroidectomy) (group A), in situ preservation of all parathyroid glands (no autotransplantation and inadvertent parathyroidectomy) (group B) or inadvertent removal of a parathyroid gland (no autotransplantation) (group C) who underwent first-time total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma between January 2013 and June 2016 were included retrospectively.

Results

Of the 702 patients, 383, 297 and 22 were respectively included in the groups A, B and C. The overall rates of transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism were 37.6% and 1.0%. The incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism was 43.9, 29.0 and 45.5% (A vs B, P = 0.000; A vs C, P = 1.000), and the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism was 1.0, 0.7 and 4.5% (P > 0.05). The recovery rates of serum parathyroid hormone levels were 71.4, 72.2 and 66.0% at 6-month follow-up (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Autotransplantation of a parathyroid gland does not affect the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism, but increases the risk of transient hypoparathyroidism when the rest of parathyroid glands are preserved in situ. At least 2 parathyroid glands should be preserved during total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection to prevent permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Open access
Kaisu Luiro Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Kristiina Aittomäki Department of Medical Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Pekka Jousilahti Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

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Juha S Tapanainen Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Medical Research Center, PEDEGO Research Unit, Oulu, Finland

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Objective

To study the use of hormone therapy (HT), morbidity and reproductive outcomes of women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) due to FSH-resistant ovaries (FSHRO).

Design

A prospective follow-up study in a university-based tertiary clinic setting.

Methods

Twenty-six women with an inactivating A189V FSH receptor mutation were investigated by means of a health questionnaire and clinical examination. Twenty-two returned the health questionnaire and 14 were clinically examined. Main outcome measures in the health questionnaire were reported as HT, morbidity, medication and infertility treatment outcomes. In the clinical study, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were compared to age-matched controls from a national population survey (FINRISK). Average number of controls was 326 per FSHRO subject (range 178–430). Bone mineral density and whole-body composition were analyzed with DXA. Psychological and sexual well-being was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI21), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires.

Results

HT was initiated late (median 18 years of age) compared with normal puberty and the median time of use was shorter (20–22 years) than the normal fertile period. Osteopenia was detected in 9/14 of the FSHRO women despite HT. No major risk factors for CVD or diabetes were found.

Conclusions

HT of 20 years seems to be associated with a similar cardiovascular and metabolic risk factor profile as in the population control group. However, optimal bone health may require an early-onset and longer period of HT, which would better correspond to the natural fertile period.

Open access
Hsiao-Yun Yeh Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Hung-Ta Hondar Wu Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Musculoskeletal Section, Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Hsiao-Chin Shen Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Tzu-Hao Li Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan

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Ying-Ying Yang Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Kuei-Chuan Lee Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Yi-Hsuan Lin Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Chia-Chang Huang Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Ming-Chih Hou Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Objective

Previous studies have suggested that body mass index (BMI) should be considered when assessing the relationship between fatty liver (FL) and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate future fracture events in people with FL, focusing on the effect of BMI in both sexes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study, spanning from 2011 to 2019, enrolled 941 people, including 441 women and 500 men, aged 50 years or older who underwent liver imaging (ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance image) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (for bone mineral density measurements). The study examined predictors of osteoporosis in both sexes and the effect of different ranges of BMI (18.5–24, 24–27, and ≥27 kg/m2) on the risk of future fracture events in FL patients.

Results

The average follow-up period was 5.3 years for women and 4.2 years for men. Multivariate analysis identified age and BMI as independent risk factors of osteoporosis in both sexes. Each unit increase in BMI decreased the risk of osteoporosis by ≥10%. In both women and men with FL, a BMI of 24–27 kg/m2 offered protection against future fractures, compared to those without FL and with a BMI of 18.5–24 kg/m2.

Conclusion

The protective effect of a higher BMI against future fractures in middle-aged and elderly female and male patients with FL is not uniform and diminishes beyond certain BMI ranges.

Open access
Ying Hua Department of Administrative Office, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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Jinqiong Fang Department of Administrative Office, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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Xiaocong Yao Department of Osteoporosis Care and Control, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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Zhongxin Zhu Department of Osteoporosis Care and Control, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Department of Clinical Research Center, The First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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Background

Obesity and osteoporosis are major public health issues globally. The prevalence of these two diseases prompts the need to better understand the relationship between them. Previous studies, however, have yielded controversial findings on this issue. Therefore, our aim in this study was to evaluate the independent association between waist circumference (WC), as a marker of obesity, and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine among middle-aged adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

Our analysis was based on NHANES data from 2011 to 2018, including 5084 adults, 40–59 years of age. A weighted multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between WC and lumbar BMD, with smooth curve fitting performed for non-linearities.

Results

After adjusting for BMI and other potential confounders, WC was negatively associated with lumbar BMD in men (β = −2.8, 95% CI: −4.0 to −1.6) and premenopausal women (β = −2.6, 95% CI: −4.1 to −1.1). On subgroup analysis stratified by BMI, this negative association was more significant in men with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (β = −4.1, 95% CI: −6.3 to −2.0) and in pre- and postmenopausal women with a BMI <25 kg/m2 (premenopausal women: β= −5.7, 95% CI: −9.4 to−2.0; postmenopausal women: β=−5.6, 95% CI: −9.7 to −1.6). We further identified an inverted U-shaped relationship among premenopausal women, with a point of inflection at WC of 80 cm.

Conclusions

Our study found an inverse relationship between WC and lumbar BMD in middle-aged men with BMI ≥30 kg/m2, and women with BMI <25 kg/m2.

Open access
Kathrin R Frey Department of Medicine I, Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

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Tina Kienitz Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany

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Julia Schulz Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany

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Manfred Ventz Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany

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Kathrin Zopf Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany

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Marcus Quinkler Endocrinology in Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany

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Context

Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) receive life-long glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. Daily GC doses are often above the physiological cortisol production rate and can cause long-term morbidities such as osteoporosis. No prospective trial has investigated the long-term effect of different GC therapies on bone mineral density (BMD) in those patients.

Objectives

To determine if patients on hydrocortisone (HC) or prednisolone show changes in BMD after follow-up of 5.5 years. To investigate if BMD is altered after switching from immediate- to modified-release HC.

Design and patients

Prospective, observational, longitudinal study with evaluation of BMD by DXA at visit1, after 2.2 ± 0.4 (visit2) and after 5.5 ± 0.8 years (visit3) included 36 PAI and 8 CAH patients. Thirteen patients received prednisolone (age 52.5 ± 14.8 years; 8 women) and 31 patients received immediate-release HC (age 48.9 ± 15.8 years; 22 women). Twelve patients on immediate-release switched to modified-release HC at visit2.

Results

Prednisolone showed significantly lower Z-scores compared to HC at femoral neck (−0.85 ± 0.80 vs −0.25 ± 1.16, P < 0.05), trochanter (−0.96 ± 0.62 vs 0.51 ± 1.07, P < 0.05) and total hip (−0.78 ± 0.55 vs 0.36 ± 1.04, P < 0.05), but not at lumbar spine, throughout the study. Prednisolone dose decreased by 8% over study time, but no significant effect was seen on BMD. BMD did not change significantly after switching from immediate- to modified-release HC.

Conclusions

The use of prednisolone as hormone replacement therapy results in significantly lower BMD compared to HC. Patients on low-dose HC replacement therapy showed unchanged Z-scores within the normal reference range during the study period.

Open access
Victoria Chatzimavridou-Grigoriadou Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Manchester, UK

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Lisa H Barraclough Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Manchester, UK

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Rohit Kochhar Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Lucy Buckley Department of Radiology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Nooreen Alam Department of Radiotherapy, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

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Claire E Higham Department of Endocrinology, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK

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Background

Radiotherapy-related insufficiency fractures (RRIFs) represent a common, burdensome consequence of pelvic radiotherapy. Their underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and data on the effect of osteoporosis are contradictory, with limited studies assessing bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Methods

BMD by DXA (Hologic) scan and fracture risk following pelvic RRIF were retrospectively assessed in 39 patients (median age 68 years) at a tertiary cancer centre. Patient characteristics and treatment history are presented narratively; correlations were explored using univariate regression analyses.

Results

Additional cancer treatments included chemotherapy (n = 31), surgery (n = 20) and brachytherapy (n = 19). Median interval between initiation of radiotherapy and RRIF was 11 (7.5–20.8) and that between RRIF and DXA 3 was (1–6) months. Three patients had normal BMD, 16 had osteopenia and 16 osteoporosis, following World Health Organization classification. Four patients were <40 years at the time of DXA (all Z-scores > –2). Median 10-year risk for hip and major osteoporotic fracture was 3.1% (1.5–5.7) and 11.5% (7.1–13.8), respectively. Only 33.3% of patients had high fracture risk (hip fracture >4% and/or major osteoporotic >20%), and 31% fell above the intervention threshold per National Osteoporosis Guidelines Group (NOGG) guidance (2017). Higher BMD was predicted by lower pelvic radiotherapy dose (only in L3 and L4), concomitant chemotherapy and higher body mass index.

Conclusion

At the time of RRIF, most patients did not have osteoporosis, some had normal BMD and overall had low fracture risk. Whilst low BMD is a probable risk factor, it is unlikely to be the main mechanism underlying RRIFs, and further studies are required to understand the predictive value of BMD.

Open access