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Machine learning-based algorithm as an innovative approach for the differentiation between diabetes insipidus and primary polydipsia in clinical practice

Uri Nahum, Julie Refardt, Irina Chifu, Wiebke K Fenske, Martin Fassnacht, Gabor Szinnai, Mirjam Christ-Crain, and Marc Pfister

Objective

Differentiation between central diabetes insipidus (cDI) and primary polydipsia (PP) remains challenging in clinical practice. Although the hypertonic saline infusion test led to high diagnostic accuracy, it is a laborious test requiring close monitoring of plasma sodium levels. As such, we leverage machine learning (ML) to facilitate differential diagnosis of cDI.

Design

We analyzed data of 59 patients with cDI and 81 patients with PP from a prospective multicenter study evaluating the hypertonic saline test as new test approach to diagnose cDI. Our primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of the ML-based algorithm in differentiating cDI from PP patients.

Methods

The data set used included 56 clinical, biochemical, and radiological covariates. We identified a set of five covariates which were crucial for differentiating cDI from PP patients utilizing standard ML methods. We developed ML-based algorithms on the data and validated them with an unseen test data set.

Results

Urine osmolality, plasma sodium and glucose, known transsphenoidal surgery, or anterior pituitary deficiencies were selected as input parameters for the basic ML-based algorithm. Testing it on an unseen test data set resulted in a high area under the curve (AUC) score of 0.87. A further improvement of the ML-based algorithm was reached with the addition of MRI characteristics and the results of the hypertonic saline infusion test (AUC: 0.93 and 0.98, respectively).

Conclusion

The developed ML-based algorithm facilitated differentiation between cDI and PP patients with high accuracy even if only clinical information and laboratory data were available, thereby possibly avoiding cumbersome clinical tests in the future.

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Assessment of prognostic factors in pediatric adrenocortical tumors: a systematic review and evaluation of a modified S-GRAS score

Maria Riedmeier, Boris Decarolis, Imme Haubitz, Joachim Reibetanz, Armin Wiegering, Christoph Härtel, Paul-Gerhardt Schlegel, Martin Fassnacht, and Verena Wiegering

Objective

Pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (pACC) is rare and prognostic stratification remains challenging. We summarized the clinical prognostic factors of pACC and determined the prognostic value of the pediatric scoring system (pS-GRAS) in adaption to the recommendation (S-GRAS) of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors for the classification of adult ACC.

Design

Analysis of pACC patients of 33 available retrospective studies in the literature.

Methods

We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for manuscripts regarding pACC. The pS-GRAS score was calculated as a sum of tumor stage (1 = 0; 2–3 = 1; 4 = 2 points), grade (Ki67 index/rate of mitosis 0–9%/low = 0; 10–19%/intermediate = 1; ≥20%/high = 2 points), resection status (R0 = 0; RX = 1; R1 = 2; R2 = 3 points), age (<4 years = 0; ≥4 years = 1 point), hormone-related symptoms (androgen production = 0; glucocorticoid/mixed/no hormone production = 1 point) generating 10 scores and 4 groups (1: 0–2, 2: 3–4, 3: 5, 4: 6–9). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

Results

We included 733 patients. The median age was 2.5 years and >85% of pACC showed hormone activity (mixed 50%, androgen 29%, glucocorticoid 21%). Androgen production was associated with a superior OS. Increasing age correlated with higher rates of inactive or only glucocorticoid-producing tumors, advanced tumor stage, and case fatality. Especially infants < 4 years showed more often low-risk constellations with an increased OS for all tumor stages. The pS-GRAS score correlated with clinical outcome; median OS was 133 months (95% CI: 36–283) in group 1 (n = 49), 110 months (95% CI: 2.9–314) in group 2 (n = 57), 49 months (95% CI: 5.8–278) in group 3 (n = 18), and 16 months (95% CI: 2.4–267) in group 4; (n = 11) P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The pS-GRAS score seems to have a high predictive value in the pACC patients, may serve as a helpful tool for risk stratification in future studies, and should be evaluated prospectively in an international context.

Free access

Metabolic impact of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: targeted metabolomics in patients before and after tumor removal

Zoran Erlic, Max Kurlbaum, Timo Deutschbein, Svenja Nölting, Aleksander Prejbisz, Henri Timmers, Susan Richter, Cornelia Prehn, Dirk Weismann, Jerzy Adamski, Andrzej Januszewicz, Martin Reincke, Martin Fassnacht, Mercedes Robledo, Graeme Eisenhofer, Felix Beuschlein, and Matthias Kroiss

Objective

Excess catecholamine release by pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) leads to characteristic clinical features and increased morbidity and mortality. The influence of PPGLs on metabolism is ill described but may impact diagnosis and management. The objective of this study was to systematically and quantitatively study PPGL-induced metabolic changes at a systems level.

Design

Targeted metabolomics by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of plasma specimens in a clinically well-characterized prospective cohort study.

Methods

Analyses of metabolic profiles of plasma specimens from 56 prospectively enrolled and clinically well-characterized patients (23 males, 33 females) with catecholamine-producing PPGL before and after surgery, as well as measurement of 24-h urinary catecholamine using LC-MS/MS.

Results

From 127 analyzed metabolites, 15 were identified with significant changes before and after surgery: five amino acids/biogenic amines (creatinine, histidine, ornithine, sarcosine, tyrosine) and one glycerophospholipid (PCaeC34:2) with increased concentrations and six glycerophospholipids (PCaaC38:1, PCaaC42:0, PCaeC40:2, PCaeC42:5, PCaeC44:5, PCaeC44:6), two sphingomyelins (SMC24:1, SMC26:1) and hexose with decreased levels after surgery. Patients with a noradrenergic tumor phenotype had more pronounced alterations compared to those with an adrenergic tumor phenotype. Weak, but significant correlations for 8 of these 15 metabolites with total urine catecholamine levels were identified.

Conclusions

This first large prospective metabolomics analysis of PPGL patients demonstrates broad metabolic consequences of catecholamine excess. Robust impact on lipid and amino acid metabolism may contribute to increased morbidity of PPGL patients.

Free access

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: clinical feature-based disease probability in relation to catecholamine biochemistry and reason for disease suspicion

Aikaterini Geroula, Timo Deutschbein, Katharina Langton, Jimmy Masjkur, Christina Pamporaki, Mirko Peitzsch, Stephanie Fliedner, Henri J L M Timmers, Stefan R Bornstein, Felix Beuschlein, Anthony Stell, Andrzej Januszewicz, Aleksander Prejbisz, Martin Fassnacht, Jacques W M Lenders, and Graeme Eisenhofer

Objective

Hypertension and symptoms of catecholamine excess are features of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). This prospective observational cohort study assessed whether differences in presenting features in patients tested for PPGLs might assist establishing likelihood of disease.

Design and methods

Patients were tested for PPGLs because of signs and symptoms, an incidental mass on imaging or routine surveillance due to previous history or hereditary risk. Patients with (n = 245) compared to without (n = 1820) PPGLs were identified on follow-up. Differences in presenting features were then examined to assess the probability of disease and relationships to catecholamine excess.

Results

Hyperhidrosis, palpitations, pallor, tremor and nausea were 30–90% more prevalent (P < 0.001) among patients with than without PPGLs, whereas headache, flushing and other symptoms showed little or no differences. Although heart rates were higher (P < 0.0001) in patients with than without PPGLs, blood pressures were not higher and were positively correlated to BMI, which was lower (P < 0.0001) in patients with than without PPGLs. From these differences in clinical features, a score system was established that indicated a 5.8-fold higher probability of PPGLs in patients with high than low scores. Higher scores among patients with PPGLs were associated, independently of tumor size, with higher biochemical indices of catecholamine excess.

Conclusions

This study identifies a complex of five signs and symptoms combined with lower BMI and elevated heart rate as key features in patients with PPGLs. Prevalences of these features, which reflect variable tumoral catecholamine production, may be used to triage patients according to likelihood of disease.

Free access

Oxytocin levels in response to pituitary provocation tests in healthy volunteers

Clara O Sailer, Bettina Winzeler, Sandrine A Urwyler, Ingeborg Schnyder, Julie Refardt, Anne Eckert, Nimmy Varghese, Martin Fassnacht, Irina Chifu, Elizabeth A Lawson, Joseph G Verbalis, Wiebke Fenske, and Mirjam Christ-Crain

Objective

Oxytocin, secreted into circulation through the posterior pituitary, regulates lactation, weight, and socio-behavioral functioning. Oxytocin deficiency has been suggested in patients with hypopituitarism; however, diagnostic testing for oxytocin deficiency has not been developed. The aim of this study was to investigate known pituitary provocation tests to stimulate plasma oxytocin.

Design

Sixty-five healthy volunteers underwent either the hypertonic saline or arginine infusion test, known to stimulate copeptin, or the oral macimorelin test, known to stimulate growth hormone. Plasma oxytocin was measured before and once plasma sodium level ≥ 150 mmol/L for the hypertonic saline, after 60 min for the arginine infusion, and after 45 min for the oral macimorelin test (expected peak of copeptin and growth hormone levels, respectively). Primary outcome was a change from basal to stimulated oxytocin levels using paired t-tests.

Results

As expected, copeptin increased in response to hypertonic saline and arginine infusion (P < 0.001), and growth hormone increased to oral macimorelin (P < 0.001). Oxytocin increased in response to hypertonic saline infusion from 0.4 (0.2) to 0.6 pg/mL (0.3) (P = 0.003) but with a high variance. There was no change to arginine infusion (P = 0.4), and a trend to lower stimulated levels to oral macimorelin (P = 0.05).

Conclusion

Neither the arginine infusion nor the oral macimorelin test stimulates plasma oxytocin levels, whereas there was an increase with high variance upon hypertonic saline infusion. As a predictable rise in most participants is required for a reliable pituitary provocation test, none of the investigated pituitary provocation tests can be recommended diagnostically to identify patients with an oxytocin deficiency.

Free access

Mass spectrometry imaging identifies metabolic patterns associated with malignant potential in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Masanori Murakami, Na Sun, Christian Greunke, Annette Feuchtinger, Stefan Kircher, Timo Deutschbein, Thomas Papathomas, Nicole Bechmann, Paal William Wallace, Mirko Peitzsch, Esther Korpershoek, Juliane Friemel, Anne-Paule Gimenez-Roqueplo, Mercedes Robledo, Henri J L M Timmers, Letizia Canu, Achim Weber, Ronald R de Krijger, Martin Fassnacht, Thomas Knösel, Thomas Kirchner, Martin Reincke, Axel Karl Walch, Matthias Kroiss, and Felix Beuschlein

Objective

Within the past decade, important genetic drivers of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) development have been identified. The pathophysiological mechanism that translates these alterations into functional autonomy and potentially malignant behavior has not been elucidated in detail. Here we used MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens to comprehensively characterize the metabolic profiles of PPGLs.

Design and methods

MALDI-MSI was conducted in 344 PPGLs and results correlated with genetic and phenotypic information. We experimentally silenced genetic drivers by siRNA in PC12 cells to confirm their metabolic impact in vitro.

Results

Tissue abundance of kynurenine pathway metabolites such as xanthurenic acid was significantly lower (P = 2.35E−09) in the pseudohypoxia pathway cluster 1 compared to PPGLs of the kinase-driven PPGLs cluster 2. Lower abundance of xanthurenic acid was associated with shorter metastasis-free survival (log-rank tests P = 7.96E−06) and identified as a risk factor for metastasis independent of the genetic status (hazard ratio, 32.6, P = 0.002). Knockdown of Sdhb and Vhl in an in vitro model demonstrated that inositol metabolism and sialic acids were similarly modulated as in tumors of the respective cluster.

Conclusions

The present study has identified distinct tissue metabolomic profiles of PPGLs in relation to tumor genotypes. In addition, we revealed significantly altered metabolites in the kynurenine pathway in metastatic PPGLs, which can aid in the prediction of its malignant potential. However, further validation studies will be required to confirm our findings.

Restricted access

The metabolic phenotype of patients with primary aldosteronism: impact of subtype and sex – a multicenter-study of 3566 Caucasian and Asian subjects

Ariadni Spyroglou, Laura Handgriff, Lisa Müller, Paul Schwarzlmüller, Mirko Parasiliti-Caprino, Carmina Teresa Fuss, Hana Remde, Anna Hirsch, Samuel Matthew O’Toole, Moe Thuzar, Luigi Petramala, Claudio Letizia, Elisa Deflorenne, Laurence Amar, Rok Vrckovnik, Tomaz Kocjan, Catherine D Zhang, Dingfeng Li, Sumitabh Singh, Takuyuki Katabami, Takashi Yoneda, Masanori Murakami, Norio Wada, Nobuya Inagaki, Marcus Quinkler, Ezio Ghigo, Mauro Maccario, Michael Stowasser, William M Drake, Martin Fassnacht, Irina Bancos, Martin Reincke, Mitsuhide Naruse, and Felix Beuschlein

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with several features of the metabolic syndrome, in particular with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Whether these manifestations are primarily linked to aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) or bilateral idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in metabolic parameters between APA and IHA patients and to assess the impact of treatment on these clinical characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study including 3566 patients with APA or IHA of Caucasian and Asian origin. We compared the prevalence of metabolic disorders between APA and IHA patients at the time of diagnosis and 1-year post-intervention, with special references to sex differences. Furthermore, correlations between metabolic parameters and plasma aldosterone, renin, or plasma cortisol levels after 1 mg dexamethasone (DST) were performed.

Results

As expected, APA patients were characterized by higher plasma aldosterone and lower serum potassium levels. Only female IHA patients demonstrated significantly worse metabolic parameters than age-matched female APA patients, which were associated with lower cortisol levels upon DST. One-year post-intervention, female adrenalectomized patients showed deterioration of their lipid profile, when compared to patients treated with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Plasma aldosterone levels negatively correlated with the BMI only in APA patients.

Conclusions

Metabolic alterations appear more prominent in women with IHA. Although IHA patients have worse metabolic profiles, a correlation with cortisol autonomy is documented only in APAs, suggesting an uncoupling of cortisol action from metabolic traits in IHA patients.

Free access

Clinical spectrum of primary adrenal lymphoma: results of a multicenter cohort study

Fatemeh Majidi, Samuela Martino, Mustafa Kondakci, Christina Antke, Matthias Haase, Vasileios Chortis, Wiebke Arlt, Cristina L Ronchi, Martin Fassnacht, Claire Laurent, Jean-Michel Petit, Olivier Casasnovas, Mouhammed Amir Habra, Aleem Kanji, Roberto Salvatori, An Thi Nhat Ho, Ariadni Spyroglou, Felix Beuschlein, Diego Villa, Wasithep Limvorapitak, Björn Engelbrekt Wahlin, Oliver Gimm, Martina Rudelius, Matthias Schott, Ulrich Germing, Rainer Haas, and Norbert Gattermann

Purpose:

We sought to refine the clinical picture of primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL), a rare lymphoid malignancy with predominant adrenal manifestation and risk of adrenal insufficiency.

Methods:

Ninety-seven patients from 14 centers in Europe, Canada and the United States were included in this retrospective analysis between 1994 and 2017.

Results:

Of the 81 patients with imaging data, 19 (23%) had isolated adrenal involvement (iPAL), while 62 (77%) had additional extra-adrenal involvement (PAL+). Among patients who had both CT and PET scans, 18FDG-PET revealed extra-adrenal involvement not detected by CT scan in 9/18 cases (50%). The most common clinical manifestations were B symptoms (55%), fatigue (45%), and abdominal pain (35%). Endocrinological assessment was often inadequate. With a median follow-up of 41.6 months, 3-year progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival rates in the entire cohort were 35.5% and 39.4%, respectively. The hazard ratios of iPAL for PFS and OS were 40.1 (95% CI: 2.63–613.7, P = 0.008) and 2.69 (95% CI: 0.61–11.89, P = 0.191), respectively. PFS was much shorter in iPAL vs PAL+ (median 4 months vs not reached, P = 0.006), and OS also appeared to be shorter (median 16 months vs not reached), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.16). Isolated PAL was more frequent in females (OR = 3.81; P = 0.01) and less frequently associated with B symptoms (OR = 0.159; P = 0.004).

Conclusion:

We found unexpected heterogeneity in the clinical spectrum of PAL. Further studies are needed to clarify whether clinical distinction between iPAL and PAL+ is corroborated by differences in molecular biology.

Open access

Transcriptome in paraffin samples for the diagnosis and prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma

Anne Jouinot, Juliane Lippert, Mathilde Sibony, Florian Violon, Lindsay Jeanpierre, Daniel De Murat, Roberta Armignacco, Amandine Septier, Karine Perlemoine, Franck Letourneur, Brigitte Izac, Bruno Ragazzon, Karen Leroy, Eric Pasmant, Marie-Odile North, Sébastien Gaujoux, Bertrand Dousset, Lionel Groussin, Rossella Libe, Benoit Terris, Martin Fassnacht, Cristina L Ronchi, Jérôme Bertherat, and Guillaume Assie

Design

Molecular classification is important for the diagnosis and prognosis of adrenocortical tumors (ACT). Transcriptome profiles separate adrenocortical adenomas ‘C2’ from carcinomas, and identify two groups of carcinomas ‘C1A’ and ‘C1B’, of poor and better prognosis respectively. However, many ACT cannot be profiled because of improper or absent freezing procedures, a mandatory requirement so far. The main aim was to determine transcriptome profiles on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, using the new 3’-end RNA-sequencing technology. A secondary aim was to demonstrate the ability of this technique to explore large FFPE archives, by focusing on the rare oncocytic ACT variants.

Methods

We included 131 ACT: a training cohort from Cochin hospital and an independent validation cohort from Wuerzburg hospital. The 3’ transcriptome was generated from FFPE samples using QuantSeq (Lexogen, Vienna, Austria) and NextSeq500 (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA).

Results

In the training cohort, unsupervised clustering identified three groups: ‘C1A’ aggressive carcinomas (n = 28, 29%), ‘C1B’ more indolent carcinomas (n = 28, 29%), and ‘C2’ adenomas (n = 39, 41%). The prognostic value of FFPE transcriptome was confirmed in the validation cohort (5-year OS: 26% in ‘C1A’ (n = 26) and 100% in ‘C1B’ (n = 10), P  = 0.003). FFPE transcriptome was an independent prognostic factor in a multivariable model including tumor stage and Ki-67 (OS HR: 7.5, P  = 0.01). Oncocytic ACT (n = 19) did not form any specific cluster. Oncocytic carcinomas (n = 6) and oncocytic ACT of uncertain malignant potential (n = 4) were all in ‘C1B’.

Conclusions

The 3’ RNA-sequencing represents a convenient solution for determining ACT molecular class from FFPE samples. This technique should facilitate routine use and large retrospective studies.

Restricted access

Identification of predictive criteria for pathogenic variants of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) gene ARMC5 in 352 unselected patients

Lucas Bouys, Anna Vaczlavik, Anne Jouinot, Patricia Vaduva, Stéphanie Espiard, Guillaume Assié, Rossella Libé, Karine Perlemoine, Bruno Ragazzon, Laurence Guignat, Lionel Groussin, Léopoldine Bricaire, Isadora Pontes Cavalcante, Fidéline Bonnet-Serrano, Hervé Lefebvre, Marie-Laure Raffin-Sanson, Nicolas Chevalier, Philippe Touraine, Christel Jublanc, Camille Vatier, Gérald Raverot, Magalie Haissaguerre, Luigi Maione, Matthias Kroiss, Martin Fassnacht, Sophie Christin-Maitre, Eric Pasmant, Françoise Borson-Chazot, Antoine Tabarin, Marie-Christine Vantyghem, Martin Reincke, Peter Kamenicky, Marie-Odile North, Jérôme Bertherat, and the COMETE and ENSAT networks groups and collaborators

Objective

Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by adrenal macronodules and variable levels of cortisol excess, with not clearly established clinical diagnostic criteria. It can be caused by ARMC5 germline pathogenic variants. In this study, we aimed to identify predictive criteria for ARMC5 variants.

Methods

We included 352 consecutive index patients from 12 European centers, sequenced for germline ARMC5 alteration. Clinical, biological and imaging data were collected retrospectively.

Results

52 patients (14.8%) carried ARMC5 germline pathogenic variants and showed a more distinct phenotype than non-mutated patients for cortisol excess (24-h urinary free cortisol 2.32 vs 1.11-fold ULN, respectively, P  < 0.001) and adrenal morphology (maximal adrenal diameter 104 vs 83 mm, respectively, P  < 0.001) and were more often surgically or medically treated (67.9 vs 36.8%, respectively, P  < 0.001). ARMC5-mutated patients showed a constant, bilateral adrenal involvement and at least a possible autonomous cortisol secretion (defined by a plasma cortisol after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression above 50 nmol/L), while these criteria were not systematic in WT patients (78.3%). The association of these two criteria holds a 100% sensitivity and a 100% negative predictive value for ARMC5 pathogenic variant.

Conclusion

We report the largest series of index patients investigated for ARMC5 and confirm that ARMC5 pathogenic variants are associated with a more severe phenotype in most cases. To minimize negative ARMC5 screening, genotyping should be limited to clear bilateral adrenal involvement and autonomous cortisol secretion, with an optimum sensitivity for routine clinical practice. These findings will also help to better define PBMAH diagnostic criteria.