Filter

Refine by Access

Refine by Date

—
  • Print
  • Save

Search Results

You are looking at 41 - 47 of 47 items for

  • Author: Martin Reincke x
  • Refine by Access: All content x
Clear All Modify Search
Free access

Landscape of somatic mutations in sporadic GH-secreting pituitary adenomas

Cristina L Ronchi, Erika Peverelli, Sabine Herterich, Isabel Weigand, Giovanna Mantovani, Thomas Schwarzmayr, Silviu Sbiera, Bruno Allolio, Jürgen Honegger, Silke Appenzeller, Andrea G Lania, Martin Reincke, Davide Calebiro, Anna Spada, Michael Buchfelder, Joerg Flitsch, Tim M Strom, and Martin Fassnacht

Context

Alterations in the cAMP signaling pathway are common in hormonally active endocrine tumors. Somatic mutations at GNAS are causative in 30–40% of GH-secreting adenomas. Recently, mutations affecting the USP8 and PRKACA gene have been reported in ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas and cortisol-secreting adrenocortical adenomas respectively. However, the pathogenesis of many GH-secreting adenomas remains unclear.

Aim

Comprehensive genetic characterization of sporadic GH-secreting adenomas and identification of new driver mutations.

Design

Screening for somatic mutations was performed in 67 GH-secreting adenomas by targeted sequencing for GNAS, PRKACA, and USP8 mutations (n=31) and next-generation exome sequencing (n=36).

Results

By targeted sequencing, known activating mutations in GNAS were detected in five cases (16.1%), while no somatic mutations were observed in both PRKACA and USP8. Whole-exome sequencing identified 132 protein-altering somatic mutations in 31/36 tumors with a median of three mutations per sample (range: 1–13). The only recurrent mutations have been observed in GNAS (31.4% of cases). However, seven genes involved in cAMP signaling pathway were affected in 14 of 36 samples and eight samples harbored variants in genes involved in the calcium signaling or metabolism. At the enrichment analysis, several altered genes resulted to be associated with developmental processes. No significant correlation between genetic alterations and the clinical data was observed.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of somatic mutations in a large series of GH-secreting adenomas. No novel recurrent genetic alterations have been observed, but the data suggest that beside cAMP pathway, calcium signaling might be involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors.

Free access

Renin, a marker for left ventricular hypertrophy, in primary aldosteronism: a cohort study

Anton Köhler, Anna-Lina Sarkis, Daniel Alexander Heinrich, Lisa Müller, Laura Handgriff, Sinan Deniz, Holger Schneider, Heike Künzel, Roland Ladurner, Martin Reincke, and Christian Adolf

Context

Primary aldosteronism (PA) causes left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) via hemodynamic factors and directly by aldosterone effects. Specific treatment by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) or adrenalectomy (ADX) has been reported to improve LVH. However, the cardiovascular benefit could depend on plasma renin concentration (PRC) in patients on MRA.

Patients and objective

We analyzed data from 184 patients from the Munich center of the German Conn’s Registry, who underwent echocardiography at the time of diagnosis and 1 year after treatment. To assess the effect of PRC on cardiac recovery, we stratified patients on MRA according to suppression (n = 46) or non-suppression of PRC (n = 59) at follow-up and compared them to PA patients after ADX (n = 79).

Results

At baseline, patients treated by ADX or MRA had comparable left ventricular mass index (LVMI, 61.7 vs 58.9 g/m2.7, P  = 0.591). Likewise, patients on MRA had similar LVMI at baseline, when stratified into treatment groups with suppressed and unsuppressed PRC during follow-up (60.0 vs 58.1 g/m2.7, P  = 0.576). In all three groups, we observed a significant reduction in LVMI following treatment (P  < 0.001). However, patients with suppressed PRC had no decrease in pro-BNP levels, and the reduction of LVMI was less intense than in patients with unsuppressed PRC (4.1 vs 8.2 g/m2.7, P  = 0.033) or after ADX (9.3 g/m2.7, P  = 0.019). Similarly, in multivariate analysis, higher PRC was correlated with the regression of LVH.

Conclusion

PA patients with suppressed PRC on MRA show impaired regression of LVH. Therefore, dosing of MRA according to PRC could improve their cardiovascular benefit.

Free access

Preoperative medical treatment in Cushing’s syndrome: frequency of use and its impact on postoperative assessment: data from ERCUSYN

Elena Valassi, Holger Franz, Thierry Brue, Richard A Feelders, Romana Netea-Maier, Stylianos Tsagarakis, Susan M Webb, Maria Yaneva, Martin Reincke, Michael Droste, Irina Komerdus, Dominique Maiter, Darko Kastelan, Philippe Chanson, Marija Pfeifer, Christian J Strasburger, Miklós Tóth, Olivier Chabre, Michal Krsek, Carmen Fajardo, Marek Bolanowski, Alicia Santos, Peter J Trainer, John A H Wass, Antoine Tabarin, and for the ERCUSYN Study Group

Background

Surgery is the definitive treatment of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) but medications may also be used as a first-line therapy. Whether preoperative medical treatment (PMT) affects postoperative outcome remains controversial.

Objective

(1) Evaluate how frequently PMT is given to CS patients across Europe; (2) examine differences in preoperative characteristics of patients who receive PMT and those who undergo primary surgery and (3) determine if PMT influences postoperative outcome in pituitary-dependent CS (PIT-CS).

Patients and methods

1143 CS patients entered into the ERCUSYN database from 57 centers in 26 countries. Sixty-nine percent had PIT-CS, 25% adrenal-dependent CS (ADR-CS), 5% CS from an ectopic source (ECT-CS) and 1% were classified as having CS from other causes (OTH-CS).

Results

Twenty per cent of patients took PMT. ECT-CS and PIT-CS were more likely to receive PMT compared to ADR-CS (P < 0.001). Most commonly used drugs were ketoconazole (62%), metyrapone (16%) and a combination of both (12%). Median (interquartile range) duration of PMT was 109 (98) days. PIT-CS patients treated with PMT had more severe clinical features at diagnosis and poorer quality of life compared to those undergoing primary surgery (SX) (P < 0.05). Within 7 days of surgery, PIT-CS patients treated with PMT were more likely to have normal cortisol (P < 0.01) and a lower remission rate (P < 0.01). Within 6 months of surgery, no differences in morbidity or remission rates were observed between SX and PMT groups.

Conclusions

PMT may confound the interpretation of immediate postoperative outcome. Follow-up is recommended to definitely evaluate surgical results.

Free access

Primary aldosteronism: key characteristics at diagnosis: a trend toward milder forms

Daniel A Heinrich, Christian Adolf, Lars C Rump, Ivo Quack, Marcus Quinkler, Stefanie Hahner, Andrzej Januszewicz, Jochen Seufert, Holger S Willenberg, Nina Nirschl, Lisa Sturm, Felix Beuschlein, and Martin Reincke

Objective

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common endocrine form of arterial hypertension. The German Conn’s Registry’s purpose is to improve treatment outcomes of PA. We assessed whether key clinical, biochemical and epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed PA cases have changed over time, potentially indicating a different screening and referral practice in Germany evolving from 2008 to 2016.

Design

The German Conn’s Registry is a multicenter database prospectively analyzing morbidity and long-term outcome of patients with PA.

Methods

Phenotypic changes between three year periods were calculated using Mann–Whitney U tests and Kruskal–Wallis tests for independent variables.

Results

Over three time periods from 2008 to 2016, we noted a relative decrease of unilateral PA cases (67 vs 43%). Significantly more females were diagnosed with PA (33 vs 43%). Median daily defined drug doses decreased (3.1 vs 2.0) in the presence of unchanged SBP (150 vs 150 mmHg), plasma aldosterone (199 vs 173 ng/L) and PRC (3.2 vs 3.2 U/L). Median ARR values decreased (70 vs 47 ng/U) and median potassium levels at diagnosis (3.5 vs 3.7 mmol/L) increased as the percentage of normokalemic patients (25 vs 41%), indicating milder forms of PA.

Conclusions

Our results are in accordance with an increased screening intensity for PA. We identified a trend toward diagnosing milder forms, increasingly more females and less unilateral cases of PA.

Free access

Corticotroph tumor progression after bilateral adrenalectomy (Nelson’s syndrome): systematic review and expert consensus recommendations

Martin Reincke, Adriana Albani, Guillaume Assie, Irina Bancos, Thierry Brue, Michael Buchfelder, Olivier Chabre, Filippo Ceccato, Andrea Daniele, Mario Detomas, Guido Di Dalmazi, Atanaska Elenkova, James Findling, Ashley B Grossman, Celso E Gomez-Sanchez, Anthony P Heaney, Juergen Honegger, Niki Karavitaki, Andre Lacroix, Edward R Laws, Marco Losa, Masanori Murakami, John Newell-Price, Francesca Pecori Giraldi, Luis G Pérez‐Rivas, Rosario Pivonello, William E Rainey, Silviu Sbiera, Jochen Schopohl, Constantine A Stratakis, Marily Theodoropoulou, Elisabeth F C van Rossum, Elena Valassi, Sabina Zacharieva, German Rubinstein, and Katrin Ritzel

Background

Corticotroph tumor progression (CTP) leading to Nelson’s syndrome (NS) is a severe and difficult-to-treat complication subsequent to bilateral adrenalectomy (BADX) for Cushing’s disease. Its characteristics are not well described, and consensus recommendations for diagnosis and treatment are missing.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed focusing on clinical studies and case series (≥5 patients). Definition, cumulative incidence, treatment and long-term outcomes of CTP/NS after BADX were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results were presented and discussed at an interdisciplinary consensus workshop attended by international pituitary experts in Munich on October 28, 2018.

Results

Data covered definition and cumulative incidence (34 studies, 1275 patients), surgical outcome (12 studies, 187 patients), outcome of radiation therapy (21 studies, 273 patients), and medical therapy (15 studies, 72 patients).

Conclusions

We endorse the definition of CTP-BADX/NS as radiological progression or new detection of a pituitary tumor on thin-section MRI. We recommend surveillance by MRI after 3 months and every 12 months for the first 3 years after BADX. Subsequently, we suggest clinical evaluation every 12 months and MRI at increasing intervals every 2–4 years (depending on ACTH and clinical parameters). We recommend pituitary surgery as first-line therapy in patients with CTP-BADX/NS. Surgery should be performed before extrasellar expansion of the tumor to obtain complete and long-term remission. Conventional radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery should be utilized as second-line treatment for remnant tumor tissue showing extrasellar extension

Free access

Scalp hair cortisol for diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome

Vincent L Wester, Martin Reincke, Jan W Koper, Erica L T van den Akker, Laura Manenschijn, Christina M Berr, Julia Fazel, Yolanda B de Rijke, Richard A Feelders, and Elisabeth F C van Rossum

Objective

Current first-line screening tests for Cushing’s syndrome (CS) only measure time-point or short-term cortisol. Hair cortisol content (HCC) offers a non-invasive way to measure long-term cortisol exposure over several months of time. We aimed to evaluate HCC as a screening tool for CS.

Design

Case-control study in two academic referral centers for CS.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2016, we collected scalp hair from patients suspected of CS and healthy controls. HCC was measured using ELISA. HCC was available in 43 confirmed CS patients, 35 patients in whom the diagnosis CS was rejected during diagnostic work-up and follow-up (patient controls), and 174 healthy controls. Additionally, we created HCC timelines in two patients with ectopic CS.

Results

CS patients had higher HCC than patient controls and healthy controls (geometric mean 106.9 vs 12.7 and 8.4 pg/mg respectively, P < 0.001). At a cut-off of 31.1 pg/mg, HCC could differentiate between CS patients and healthy controls with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 90%. With patient controls as a reference, specificity remained the same (91%). Within CS patients, HCC correlated significantly with urinary free cortisol (r = 0.691, P < 0.001). In two ectopic CS patients, HCC timelines indicated that cortisol was increased 3 and 6 months before CS became clinically apparent.

Conclusions

Analysis of cortisol in a single scalp hair sample offers diagnostic accuracy for CS similar to currently used first-line tests, and can be used to investigate cortisol exposure in CS patients months to years back in time, enabling the estimation of disease onset.

Free access

High mortality within 90 days of diagnosis in patients with Cushing’s syndrome: results from the ERCUSYN registry

Elena Valassi, Antoine Tabarin, Thierry Brue, Richard A Feelders, Martin Reincke, Romana Netea-Maier, Miklós Tóth, Sabina Zacharieva, Susan M Webb, Stylianos Tsagarakis, Philippe Chanson, Marija Pfeiffer, Michael Droste, Irina Komerdus, Darko Kastelan, Dominique Maiter, Olivier Chabre, Holger Franz, Alicia Santos, Christian J Strasburger, Peter J Trainer, John Newell-Price, Oskar Ragnarsson, and the ERCUSYN Study Group

Objective

Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) have increased mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes and time of death in a large cohort of patients with CS and to establish factors associated with increased mortality.

Methods

In this cohort study, we analyzed 1564 patients included in the European Registry on CS (ERCUSYN); 1045 (67%) had pituitary-dependent CS, 385 (25%) adrenal-dependent CS, 89 (5%) had an ectopic source and 45 (3%) other causes. The median (IQR) overall follow-up time in ERCUSYN was 2.7 (1.2–5.5) years.

Results

Forty-nine patients had died at the time of the analysis; 23 (47%) with pituitary-dependent CS, 6 (12%) with adrenal-dependent CS, 18 (37%) with ectopic CS and two (4%) with CS due to other causes. Of 42 patients whose cause of death was known, 15 (36%) died due to progression of the underlying disease, 13 (31%) due to infections, 7 (17%) due to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease and 2 due to pulmonary embolism. The commonest cause of death in patients with pituitary-dependent CS and adrenal-dependent CS were infectious diseases (n = 8) and progression of the underlying tumor (n = 10) in patients with ectopic CS. Patients who had died were older and more often males, and had more frequently muscle weakness, diabetes mellitus and ectopic CS, compared to survivors. Of 49 deceased patients, 22 (45%) died within 90 days from start of treatment and 5 (10%) before any treatment was given. The commonest cause of deaths in these 27 patients were infections (n = 10; 37%). In a regression analysis, age, ectopic CS and active disease were independently associated with overall death before and within 90 days from the start of treatment.

Conclusion

Mortality rate was highest in patients with ectopic CS. Infectious diseases were the commonest cause of death soon after diagnosis, emphasizing the need for careful clinical vigilance at that time, especially in patients presenting with concomitant diabetes mellitus.