Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Endocrinol., 25 September 2023
Sec. Pediatric Endocrinology

Uric acid levels correlate with disease activity in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma patients

Caiyan MoCaiyan MoHan ChenHan ChenFang WangFang WangYing GuoYing GuoYao WangYao WangTao TongTao TongLiyong Zhong*Liyong Zhong*
  • Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Objective: Few studies reported the effects of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) on uric acid (UA) metabolism and the relationship between growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and UA are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between IGF-1 and UA in patients with GHPA and to further clarify whether UA levels are associated with GHPA disease activity by follow-up.

Methods: A longitudinal study of 424 GHPA patients presenting to Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2015 and January 2023 was conducted. Spearman’s correlation tests were performed to examine the relationship between IGF-1 and UA at baseline. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the independent association between UA and IGF-1. Changes in postoperative IGF-1 and UA levels were followed prospectively, and the differences in UA levels between the biochemical remission and nonremission groups were compared.

Results: At baseline, male patients, the lower the age, the higher the IGF-1 and body mass index (BMI), and the higher the UA levels. IGF-1 was significantly associated with UA after controlling for sex, age, and BMI (r = 0.122, P = 0.012). In adjusted multiple linear regression analysis, IGF-1 was independently associated with UA, and UA levels increased significantly with increasing IGF-1. During postoperative follow-up, UA decreased gradually as IGF-1 levels decreased. At 12 months postoperatively, UA levels were significantly lower in the biochemical remission group than in the nonremission group (P = 0.038).

Conclusions: In patients with GHPA, UA levels are associated with disease activity. Changes in UA levels should be taken into account in the comprehensive treatment of GHPA, patients presenting with HUA should be given lifestyle guidance and appropriate urate-lowering treatment according to their condition to better improve their prognosis.

Introduction

Growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (GHPA) is a rare disease that results from the uncontrolled secretion of growth hormone (GH) by a functional pituitary adenoma, leading to a series of characteristic clinical manifestations. The incidence rate of GHPA has been reported to be 0.38 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32-0.44] cases per 100 000 person-years, with a pooled prevalence of 5.9 (95% CI: 4.4-7.9) per 100 000 persons (1). Excessive GH stimulates the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (2), and long-term overproduction of GH and IGF-1 promotes excessive hyperplasia of soft tissues, bone, and cartilage throughout the body, leading to the typical signs and symptoms of gigantism or acromegaly in patients, and can cause multi-organ/system complications such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems (3, 4). Besides, GHPA also leads to metabolic abnormalities in the body, and the most studied effects are on glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism (57), however, the effects on uric acid (UA) metabolism have been poorly studied. Moreover, the relationship between GH/IGF-1 levels and UA in different pathophysiological states is controversial. In healthy individuals, acute infusion of IGF-1 decreased UA (8). Similarly, in nondiabetic adult subjects, IGF-1 and UA were inversely correlated (9). In obese children and adolescents, reduced peak stimulated GH was associated with hyperuricemia (HUA) (10). However, in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement, UA concentrations showed a non-linear relationship with IGF-1 standard deviation score (IGF-1 SDS) (11). Besides, studies have reported no significant effect of rhGH administration on UA levels in boys with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (12).

Pulsatile GH secretion by anterior pituitary somatotroph cells is normally under dual control exerted by hypothalamic peptides, including stimulation by growth hormone-releasing hormone and inhibition by somatostatin. In healthy individuals, GH is secreted episodically, predominantly during slow-wave sleep or during exercise (13). Moreover, GH is a stress hormone, so basal serum GH values do not reflect the functional status of the GH/IGF-1 axis, whereas IGF-1 levels are relatively stable in circulation and can be used as an important indicator to assess disease activity (14, 15). Therefore, this study was aimed at analyzing the association between serum UA levels and IGF-1 and the factors influencing UA levels in patients with GHPA, and to further clarify whether UA levels in patients with GHPA are related to disease activity by measuring changes in postoperative serum UA levels relative to the decrease in IGF-1 levels.

Methods

Study design and participants

We recruited a total of 483 patients with GHPA who presented to Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2015 and January 2023. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) meeting the diagnostic criteria for GHPA, including clinical features of gigantism or acromegaly; unsuppressed serum GH to less than 1 ng/mL after oral glucose tolerance test of 75 g glucose; elevated serum IGF-1 levels after sex- and age-adjusted; and pituitary adenomas confirmed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. (2) sufficient available medical records. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) pituitary adenomas that co-secret other hormones (prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone) (n = 32). (2) patients who combined malignancy, severe hepatic or renal insufficiency (n = 9). (3) patients who taking drugs that affect UA levels (n = 18). A total of 424 patients with GHPA were eventually included. Basic information of each patient was recorded, including age, sex, height, and weight. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m2), and the duration of disease (from the time of symptom onset to the time of inclusion in this study) was also recorded. Patients with GHPA were followed prospectively for changes in serum IGF-1, UA, and other biochemical parameters levels at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Patients with hypopituitarism were treated with appropriate hormone replacement therapy. Adjuvant therapy was administered to patients with inadequate disease control based on the size and location of residual tumors, biochemical parameters, available medical therapy, and the patient’s medical condition and preference. The criteria for remission of GHPA were: fasting serum GH < 2.5 ng/mL or GH < 1 ng/mL on a GH suppression test after administration of a glucose load; and IGF-1 levels decreased to within the normal range that matches age and sex. GHPA patients were divided into a biochemical remission group and a biochemical nonremission group according to their postoperative biochemical remission, and the differences in UA levels between the two groups at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were compared.

Measurements

Fasting serum GH and IGF-1 levels were measured between 7 am and 9 am by the chemiluminescent immunoassay (IMMULITE 2000 Immunoassay System). The reference range for GH was 3 ng/mL or lower, the upper limit of the measurement range was 40 ng/mL. The IGF-1 level was adjusted according to age and sex and expressed as IGF-1 SDS and the ratio of IGF-1 to the upper limit of normal (ULN) was expressed as IGF-1/ULN. Fasting serum UA, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and other biochemical parameters were measured simultaneously according to standard laboratory methods. And the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as fasting insulin concentration (μU/mL) × FBG (mmol/L)/22.5 (16).

Statistical analysis

IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), R statistical software, version 4.2.1 (https://www.r-project.org), and GraphPad Prism 8 (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA) was used for statistical analysis and graphing in our study. Normality tests were performed for continuous variables, none of which conformed to a normal distribution, expressed as median (interquartile range), and the Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons between groups. Spearman’s correlation tests were performed at baseline to examine the correlation between IGF-1 and other anthropometric and biochemical variables, while the partial correlation was used after adjusting for sex, age, and BMI. After adjusting for sex, age, and BMI, univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the independent association between UA and IGF-1 at baseline. Variance inflation factor (VIF) was used to diagnose multicollinearity between the independent variables. Categorical variables were expressed as percentages (%), and the chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Differences were considered significant if P < 0.05.

Results

Baseline clinical characteristics of the participants

The baseline clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients are shown in Table 1. The total 424 GHPA patients included 47.17% males and 52.83% females. Compared to female GHPA patients, male GHPA patients had lower age and higher UA, BMI, IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGF-1/ULN, BUN, Cr, eGFR, ALT, and ALB.

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1 Baseline clinical characteristics of the study participants.

HUA was defined as serum UA > 420 μmol/L (17). Of the 424 patients included, a total of 40 (9.43%) patients developed HUA, including 34 males, 17.00% (34/200) of male patients, and 6 females, 2.68% (6/224) of female patients. We divided GHPA patients into with HUA and without HUA groups for comparison, as shown in Table 2. The results showed that the HUA patients had lower age and higher BMI, IGF-1, BUN, Cr, ALT, TP, and ALB.

TABLE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2 Comparison of baseline clinical characteristics of patients in the GHPA with HUA and without HUA groups.

Correlation between IGF-1 and anthropometric and biochemical variables at baseline

We analyzed the relationship between IGF-1 levels and anthropometric and biochemical variables at baseline, as shown in Table 3. IGF-1 levels were significantly positively correlated with UA in unadjusted (r = 0.250, P < 0.001) and adjusted (r = 0.122, P = 0.012) correlation analyses. Other variables, including GH, TP, and ALB, were also significantly positively correlated with IGF-1 levels in the adjusted correlation analysis (P < 0.001). Among the 424 patients with GHPA included in this study, a total of 152 patients completed lipid testing. The results of correlation analysis showed that IGF-1 was positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-c) (r = 0.260, P = 0.001; r = -0.259, P = 0.001, respectively, data not shown).

TABLE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Table 3 Correlation between IGF-1 and anthropometric and biochemical variables at baseline.

Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis of UA with anthropometric and biochemical variables at baseline

Univariate linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between UA and anthropometric and biochemical variables at baseline, and the results are shown in Table 4. After adjusting for sex, age, and BMI, combined with DM, IGF-1, BUN, Cr, eGFR, and TP were influential factors of UA.

TABLE 4
www.frontiersin.org

Table 4 Univariate linear regression analysis of the relationship between UA and anthropometric and biochemical variables.

Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed with UA as the dependent variable. When Cr and eGFR were simultaneously included as independent variables in the equation, the calculated VIF > 10, and the presence of multicollinearity was considered, so we listed the four models separately, and the results are shown in Table 5. In model 1, IGF-1, BUN, Cr, TP, and combined with DM were included as independent variables, and the results showed that IGF-1, Cr, TP, and combined with DM were all influential factors of UA. In model 2, after including sex, age, and BMI as confounders in the equation, the results showed that IGF-1, Cr, and TP remained independent influences on UA levels. Whereas in model 3, IGF-1, BUN, eGFR, TP, and combined with DM were included as independent variables, and the results showed that IGF-1, BUN, TP, and combined with DM were the influencing factors of UA levels. In model 4, after including sex, age, and BMI as confounders, the results showed that IGF-1, BUN, eGFR, TP, and combined with DM were independent influences on UA levels. In all of the above models, IGF-1 was an independent influence on UA levels. As the level of IGF-1 increased, the level of UA gradually increased.

TABLE 5
www.frontiersin.org

Table 5 Multivariate linear regression analysis of the relationship between UA and anthropometric and biochemical variables.

Besides, fasting insulin levels were tested in only 69 of the 424 patients with GHPA included at baseline, and no significant correlation was observed between UA and fasting insulin or HOMA-IR levels (r = 0.193, P = 0.111, and r = 0.037, P = 0.761, respectively, data not shown).

Postoperative changes in IGF-1, UA, and other biochemical parameters levels

After excluding GHPA patients with HUA and receiving urate-lowering treatment, the changes in IGF-1, UA, and other biochemical parameters levels were measured at 3 months (n = 126), 6 months (n = 51), and 12 months (n = 34) after surgery, and the results are shown in Figure 1. As IGF-1 levels decreased, UA and TP levels gradually decreased, while BUN, Cr, and eGFR levels did not change significantly.

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1 Postoperative changes in IGF-1 (A), UA (B), TP (C), BUN (D), Cr (E), and eGFR (F) levels. IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; UA, uric acid; TP, total protein; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; Cr, creatinine; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ****P values < 0.0001; ***P values < 0.001; **P values < 0.01; *P values < 0.05; n.s., not significant.

According to postoperative biochemical remission, the patients were divided into the biochemical remission group and the nonremission group, and patients who did not achieve biochemical remission after surgery were treated with drugs, a second surgery, or radiation therapy. The differences in UA levels between the two groups at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery were compared, as shown in Figures 2A–C. At 3 months postoperatively, the biochemical remission rate was 28.57% (36/126), and no significant difference in UA levels between the two groups was observed. At 6 months postoperatively, the remission rate was 37.25% (19/51), and a trend of lower UA levels in the biochemical remission group than in the nonremission group could be observed. At 12 months postoperatively, the remission rate was 50.00% (17/34), and the UA levels in the biochemical remission group were significantly lower than those in the nonremission group (P = 0.038). With the rate of biochemical remission increased, UA levels gradually decreased (Figure 2D).

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2 Differences in UA levels between the biochemical remission and nonremission groups at 3 months (A), 6 months (B), and 12 months (C) postoperatively and the relationship between biochemical remission rates and UA levels (D). UA, uric acid; n.s., not significant; *P values < 0.05.

Discussion

Circulating high levels of GH/IGF-1 in patients with GHPA can affect all aspects of body metabolism, including the synthesis and breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, as well as the metabolism of sodium, calcium, and phosphorus in the kidneys (3). Previous literature reported the prevalence of DM in GHPA patients in the range of 12%-37.6% (1820) and hypertension (HTN) in 29.4% (2124), which was close to the prevalence of DM and HTN in the 424 patients with GHPA included in this study. In terms of lipid metabolism, previous studies have shown that patients with active GHPA have increased TG and decreased HDL-c (25), which was consistent with the results of the data analysis in this study. These metabolic-related complications including DM, HTN, and abnormal lipid metabolism lead to a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with GHPA, which remains 1.32 times higher than that of the general population even in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery (3). Serum UA is the end-product of purine metabolism via xanthine oxidoreductase in the body and is excreted primarily by the kidney and intestinal tract. Elevated UA is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including HTN, obesity, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, DM, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (26). Several large population-based studies have shown that HUA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality (2729). Thus, there is an urgent need for early screening and preventative strategies for HUA. The 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Guidelines (30) and the 2020 International Society of Hypertension (ISH) Guidelines (31) on Hypertension have included serum UA as an additional risk factor for CVD, demonstrating the importance of detecting UA in the presence of a risk of a cardiovascular event, and therefore it is necessary to explore changes in UA levels in patients with GHPA.

However, fewer studies reported the effect of elevated GH/IGF-1 levels on UA metabolism in GHPA patients. Our findings identified an independent correlation between IGF-1 and UA levels in patients with GHPA, which was confirmed by multiple regression analysis after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. More importantly, at 12 months postoperatively, serum UA levels decreased significantly with decreasing IGF-1, and UA levels were significantly lower in the biochemical remission group than in the nonremission group. This indicates that UA levels in patients with GHPA are related to disease activity, and UA levels are significantly higher in patients with active GHPA and decrease significantly after treatment along with disease control. Our findings also showed that men with GHPA had significantly higher UA levels than women and that the majority of GHPA patients who developed HUA were men (85%). Compared with GHPA patients without HUA, patients with combined HUA had lower age and higher BMI. Therefore, we believe that in young, obese male GHPA patients, more attention needs to be paid to monitoring UA levels and being alert to the development of HUA. For those patients with GHPA who develop HUA, clinicians should provide health education and recommend lifestyle changes, including limiting high-purine and fructose-containing foods and using urate-lowering treatment as appropriate for the patient’s condition (17, 32, 33). Meanwhile, it is necessary to take active measures to control GHPA, reduce IGF-1 levels to achieve biochemical remission, and dynamically follow up changes in UA levels to improve the patient’s prognosis.

Current research is controversial regarding the relationship between GH/IGF-1 and UA levels. In a study of 1430 adult non-diabetic subjects, results showed that low circulating IGF-1 levels were associated with high serum UA (9). A study revealed a non-linear relationship between UA concentrations and IGF-1 SDS in children and adolescents with ISS, where IGF-1 SDS was positively correlated with appropriate serum UA concentrations, while too high or too low serum UA levels were associated with lower IGF-1 SDS values (11). Another longitudinal study of 182 prepubertal ISS children treated with rhGH for 30 months showed that UA was significantly associated with height SDS after controlling for sex, age, and BMI SDS, and no statistical correlation was observed despite similar trends in increasing IGF-1 SDS and UA levels (34). In boys with obesity and NAFLD, no change was observed in UA levels at months 3 and 6 of rhGH administration (12). But our study showed that UA was positively correlated with circulating high levels of IGF-1 in patients with GHPA. The decrease in IGF-1 levels was accompanied by a significant decrease in UA levels as the disease was controlled, but further in vitro studies are needed to confirm our findings.

The mechanism by which IGF-1 affects UA levels remains unclear. JAK2-STAT5 signaling is the classical pathway involved in regulating IGF-1 gene expression (35). An in vitro study incubated human hepatoma cells with UA for 24 or 48 h in the presence of GH and observed a 21% and 26% reduction, respectively, in GH-stimulated IGF-1 mRNA expression (P = 0.020 and P = 0.012, respectively), suggesting that exposure of human hepatoma cells to UA impairs the ability of GH to stimulate JAK2-STAT5 signaling (9). Another study showed that IGF-1 reduces UA by activating urate secretory transporters and inhibiting insulin’s action (36). However, a retrospective longitudinal cohort study that collected blood samples from 1506 Japanese individuals and analyzed the data to determine the association between IGF-1 genotype and biochemical parameters of patients showed no association between IGF-1 genotype and serum UA levels (37).

Serum UA levels and insulin resistance are significantly correlated and the reciprocal causation. Recent studies have found that UA directly induces insulin resistance and insulin signaling impairment in vitro and in vivo (3840). A study showed that patients with HUA are at significantly higher risk of developing insulin resistance, and that elevated UA leading to insulin resistance may be related to the ability of high UA to increase insulin secretion in all temporal phases of pancreatic β-cells (41). Prolonged hyperinsulinemia leads to elevated circulating UA levels through increased anabolism of UA and activation of proximal tubular urate reabsorption (42, 43). GH is an insulin antagonist hormone that causes insulin resistance in adipose and skeletal muscle. IGF-1 activates insulin/IGF-1 heterotrimeric receptors in adipose, muscle, and liver to exert insulin-like effects. Thus GH/IGF-1 has insulin-like and antagonistic insulin effects and can regulate tissue sensitivity to insulin (44). Studies have demonstrated that GH/IGF-1 levels in GHPA patients are closely associated with insulin resistance (45, 46). Therefore, we consider that in GHPA patients, high levels of GH/IGF-1 lead to elevated circulating UA levels through the induction of insulin resistance. However, no significant correlation between UA and fasting insulin levels or HOMA-IR levels was observed as a result of data analysis in this study. We considered that HOMA-IR may not be able to accurately assess the severity of insulin resistance in the high GH/IGF-1 state, and subsequent expansion of sample size and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests and in vitro studies are needed to further investigate the relationship between GH/IGF-1 and UA levels and insulin resistance in GHPA patients.

This study has certain limitations. Firstly, UA levels may be influenced by the purine and fructose content of the diet, alcohol intake, and genetic factors, but due to the limitations of the retrospective study, it is difficult for us to accurately collect the purine and fructose content of the patients’ diets and their alcohol intake. Besides, some components of the metabolic syndrome, such as lipids, were not well collected. Moreover, in this study, we did not compare the changes in UA levels in patients with GHPA to a control group matched for age, sex, kidney, and metabolic variables, and a further control group will be established to validate our findings. Finally, significantly lower UA levels were observed in the biochemical remission group compared to the biochemical nonremission group at 12 months postoperatively. However, no significant difference was observed at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, probably due to the short follow-up period, the low proportion of patients achieving biochemical remission, and the small sample size. Further increase in the number of follow-up patients is needed to confirm our conclusion.

Conclusions

It is the first study that investigates the relationship between IGF-1 levels and UA in patients with GHPA. High levels of IGF-1 lead to elevated UA levels, and after treatment, UA gradually decreases as IGF-1 levels decrease, indicating that UA levels are correlated with disease activity in patients with GHPA. Therefore, during the comprehensive treatment of GHPA, besides paying attention to metabolic complications such as blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids, changes in UA levels should also be taken into account. When HUA develops, clinicians should instruct patients to change their lifestyles and administer urate-lowering treatment as appropriate according to their conditions, while taking active measures to control GHPA and lowering IGF-1 levels to achieve biochemical remission, and dynamically monitoring the changes in UA levels to improve patients’ prognosis.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

The studies involving humans were approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University (No. KY2022-024-01). The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation was provided from the participants or the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin in accordance with the national legislation and institutional requirements.

Author contributions

CM collected data, conducted statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft, HC provided statistical guidance, FW, YG, and YW provided writing guidance, TT helped collect data, and LZ guided the research direction and revised the article. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

The authors declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

1. Crisafulli S, Luxi N, Sultana J, Fontana A, Spagnolo F, Giuffrida G, et al. Global epidemiology of acromegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol (2021) 185(2):251–63. doi: 10.1530/EJE-21-0216

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Melmed S. Pathogenesis and diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults. N Engl J Med (2019) 380(26):2551–62. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1817346

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Gadelha MR, Kasuki L, Lim DST, Fleseriu M. Systemic complications of acromegaly and the impact of the current treatment landscape: an update. Endocr Rev (2019) 40(1):268–332. doi: 10.1210/er.2018-00115

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Ershadinia N, Tritos NA. Diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly: an update. Mayo Clin Proc (2022) 97(2):333–46. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.11.007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Capatina C, Wass JA. 60 years of neuroendocrinology: acromegaly. J Endocrinol (2015) 226(2):T141–60. doi: 10.1530/JOE-15-0109

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Frara S, Maffezzoni F, Mazziotti G, Giustina A. Current and emerging aspects of diabetes mellitus in acromegaly. Trends Endocrinol Metab (2016) 27(7):470–83. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2016.04.014

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Rolla M, Jawiarczyk-Przybyłowska A, Halupczok-Żyła J, Kałużny M, Konopka BM, Błoniecka I, et al. Complications and comorbidities of acromegaly-retrospective study in polish center. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) (2021) 12:642131. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.642131

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Guler HP, Schmid C, Zapf J, Froesch ER. Effects of recombinant insulin-like growth factor I on insulin secretion and renal function in normal human subjects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. (1989) 86(8):2868–72. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.8.2868

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Sesti G, Hribal ML, Procopio T, Fiorentino TV, Sciacqua A, Andreozzi F, et al. Low circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 levels are associated with high serum uric acid in nondiabetic adult subjects. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis (2014) 24(12):1365–72. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2014.06.012

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Liang S, Zhang D, Qi J, Song X, Xue J. Reduced peak stimulated growth hormone is associated with hyperuricemia in obese children and adolescents. Sci Rep (2018) 8(1):7931. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26276-w

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Wang P, Ji B, Shao Q, Zhang M, Ban B. Association between insulin-like growth factor-1 and uric acid in Chinese children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature: A cross-sectional study. BioMed Res Int (2018), 4259098. doi: 10.1155/2018/4259098

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Xue J, Liang S, Ma J, Xiao Y. Effect of growth hormone therapy on liver enzyme and other cardiometabolic risk factors in boys with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. BMC Endocr Disord (2022) 22(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s12902-022-00967-y

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Giustina A, Veldhuis JD. Pathophysiology of the neuroregulation of growth hormone secretion in experimental animals and the human. Endocr Rev (1998) 19(6):717–97. doi: 10.1210/edrv.19.6.0353

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Clemmons DR. Clinical laboratory indices in the treatment of acromegaly. Clin Chim Acta (2011) 412(5-6):403–9. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2010.11.008

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Clemmons DR. Consensus statement on the standardization and evaluation of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor assays. Clin Chem (2011) 57(4):555–9. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2010.150631

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

16. Matthews DR, Hosker JP, Rudenski AS, Naylor BA, Treacher DF, Turner RC. Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia (1985) 28(7):412–9. doi: 10.1007/BF00280883

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Dalbeth N, Gosling AL, Gaffo A, Abhishek A. Gout. Lancet (2021) 397(10287):1843–55. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00569-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Dal J, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Andersen M, Kristensen LØ, Laurberg P, Pedersen L, et al. Acromegaly incidence, prevalence, complications and long-term prognosis: a nationwide cohort study. Eur J Endocrinol (2016) 175(3):181–90. doi: 10.1530/EJE-16-0117

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Arosio M, Reimondo G, Malchiodi E, Berchialla P, Borraccino A, De Marinis L, et al. Predictors of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly: an Italian survey. Eur J Endocrinol (2012) 167(2):189–98. doi: 10.1530/EJE-12-0084

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

20. Hannon AM, Thompson CJ, Sherlock M. Diabetes in patients with acromegaly. Curr Diabetes Rep (2017) 17(2):8. doi: 10.1007/s11892-017-0838-7

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Maione L, Brue T, Beckers A, Delemer B, Petrossians P, Borson-Chazot F, et al. Changes in the management and comorbidities of acromegaly over three decades: the French Acromegaly Registry. Eur J Endocrinol (2017) 176(5):645–55. doi: 10.1530/EJE-16-1064

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Petrossians P, Daly AF, Natchev E, Maione L, Blijdorp K, Sahnoun-Fathallah M, et al. Acromegaly at diagnosis in 3173 patients from the Liege Acromegaly Survey (LAS) Database. Endocr Relat Cancer (2017) 24(10):505–18. doi: 10.1530/ERC-17-0253

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Portocarrero-Ortiz LA, Vergara-Lopez A, Vidrio-Velazquez M, Uribe-Diaz AM, García-Dominguez A, Reza-Albarrán AA, et al. The mexican acromegaly registry: clinical and biochemical characteristics at diagnosis and therapeutic outcomes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2016) 101(11):3997–4004. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-1937

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Lesen E, Granfeldt D, Houchard A, Dinet J, Berthon A, Olsson DS, et al. Comorbidities, treatment patterns and cost-of-illness of acromegaly in Sweden: a register-linkage population-based study. Eur J Endocrinol (2017) 176(2):203–12. doi: 10.1530/EJE-16-0623

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Vilar L, Naves LA, Costa SS, Abdalla LF, Coelho CE, Casulari LA. Increase of classic and nonclassic cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acromegaly. Endocr Pract (2007) 13(4):363–72. doi: 10.4158/EP.13.4.363

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Borghi C, Agabiti-Rosei E, Johnson RJ, Kielstein JT, Lurbe E, Mancia G, et al. Hyperuricaemia and gout in cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney disease. Eur J Intern Med (2020) 80:1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2020.07.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Stamp LK, Frampton C, Drake J, Doughty RN, Troughton RW, Richards AM. Associations of gout and baseline serum urate level with cardiovascular outcomes: analysis of the coronary disease cohort study. Arthritis Rheumatol (2019) 71(10):1733–8. doi: 10.1002/art.41007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

28. Li L, Zhao M, Wang C, Zhang S, Yun C, Chen S, et al. Early onset of hyperuricemia is associated with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. Clin Res Cardiol (2021) 110(7):1096–105. doi: 10.1007/s00392-021-01849-4

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

29. Chen F, Yuan L, Xu T, Liu J, Han S. Association of hyperuricemia with 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk among chinese adults and elders. Int J Environ Res Public Health (2022) 19(11). doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116713

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Williams B, Mancia G, Spiering W, Rosei EA, Azizi M, Burnier M, et al. 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Eur Heart J (2018) 39(33):3021–104. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy339

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

31. Unger T, Borghi C, Charchar F, Khan NA, Poulter NR, Prabhakaran D, et al. 2020 international society of hypertension global hypertension practice guidelines. Hypertension (2020) 75(6):1334–57. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.15026

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

32. Yu KH, Chen DY, Chen JH, Chen SY, Chen SM, Cheng TT, et al. Management of gout and hyperuricemia: Multidisciplinary consensus in Taiwan. Int J Rheum Dis (2018) 21(4):772–87. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13266

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Valsaraj R, Singh AK, Gangopadhyay KK, Ghoshdastidar B, Goyal G, Batin M, et al. Management of asymptomatic hyperuricemia: Integrated Diabetes & Endocrine Academy (IDEA) consensus statement. Diabetes Metab Syndr (2020) 14(2):93–100. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.01.007

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Yoon JS, Seo YJ, Kwon EB, Lee HJ, Kang MJ, Hwang IT. Association between uric acid and height during growth hormone therapy in children with idiopathic short stature. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) (2022) 13:1025005. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1025005

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Brooks AJ, Dai W, O'Mara ML, Abankwa D, Chhabra Y, Pelekanos RA, et al. Mechanism of activation of protein kinase JAK2 by the growth hormone receptor. Science (2014) 344(6185):1249783. doi: 10.1126/science.1249783

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

36. Mandal AK, Leask MP, Sumpter NA, Choi HK, Merriman TR, Mount DB. Genetic and physiological effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on human urate homeostasis. J Am Soc Nephrol (2023) 34(3):451–66. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000054

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

37. Honda K, Kuriyama S, Ichida K, Nakano T, Sugano N, Yokoo T. Association between polymorphism at IGF-1 rs35767 gene locus and long-term decline in renal function: a Japanese retrospective longitudinal cohort study. BMC Nephrol (2021) 22(1):207. doi: 10.1186/s12882-021-02408-9

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

38. Wan X, Xu C, Lin Y, Lu C, Li D, Sang J, et al. Uric acid regulates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance through the NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent mechanism. J Hepatol (2016) 64(4):925–32. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.11.022

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

39. Yu W, Xie D, Yamamoto T, Koyama H, Cheng J. Mechanistic insights of soluble uric acid-induced insulin resistance: Insulin signaling and beyond. Rev Endocr Metab Disord (2023) 24(2):327–43. doi: 10.1007/s11154-023-09787-4

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

40. Zhu Y, Hu Y, Huang T, Zhang Y, Li Z, Luo C, et al. High uric acid directly inhibits insulin signalling and induces insulin resistance. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2014) 447(4):707–14. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.04.080

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

41. Krishnan E, Pandya BJ, Chung L, Hariri A, Dabbous O. Hyperuricemia in young adults and risk of insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes: a 15-year follow-up study. Am J Epidemiol (2012) 176(2):108–16. doi: 10.1093/aje/kws002

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

42. McCormick N, O'Connor MJ, Yokose C, Merriman TR, Mount DB, Leong A, et al. Assessing the causal relationships between insulin resistance and hyperuricemia and gout using bidirectional mendelian randomization. Arthritis Rheumatol (2021) 73(11):2096–104. doi: 10.1002/art.41779

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

43. Fernandez-Chirino L, Antonio-Villa NE, Fermín-Martínez CA, Márquez-Salinas A, Guerra EC, Vargas-Vázquez A, et al. Elevated serum uric acid is a facilitating mechanism for insulin resistance mediated accumulation of visceral adipose tissue. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) (2022) 96(5):707–18. doi: 10.1111/cen.14673

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

44. Moller N, Jorgensen JO. Effects of growth hormone on glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism in human subjects. Endocr Rev (2009) 30(2):152–77. doi: 10.1210/er.2008-0027

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

45. Niculescu D, Purice M, Coculescu M. Insulin-like growth factor-I correlates more closely than growth hormone with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in patients with acromegaly. Pituitary (2013) 16(2):168–74. doi: 10.1007/s11102-012-0396-6

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

46. Vila G, Jørgensen JOL, Luger A, Stalla GK. Insulin resistance in patients with acromegaly. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) (2019) 10:509. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00509

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: uric acid, growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, disease activity

Citation: Mo C, Chen H, Wang F, Guo Y, Wang Y, Tong T and Zhong L (2023) Uric acid levels correlate with disease activity in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma patients. Front. Endocrinol. 14:1230852. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1230852

Received: 31 May 2023; Accepted: 05 September 2023;
Published: 25 September 2023.

Edited by:

Antonio Balsamo, Alma Mater Studiorum - University Hospital S. Orsola Malpighi, Italy

Reviewed by:

Adriana G. Ioachimescu, Emory University, United States
Esra Hatipoglu, Istanbul Memorial Hospital, Türkiye

Copyright © 2023 Mo, Chen, Wang, Guo, Wang, Tong and Zhong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Liyong Zhong, zhongliyong@bjtth.org

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.