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Horm Metab Res 1976; 8(4): 295-298
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1093639
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hypoglobulinemia in Acromegaly[*]

R. B. Mims , R. J. Lopez , Ursula A. Finck , J. E. Bethune
  • Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, School of Medicine and the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 December 2008 (online)

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Abstract

We have observed an apparent hypoglobulinemia in 17 of 35 patients (48.6%) with acromegaly. This unexpected finding was persistent and reproducible up to six years for five acromegalic patients, and more than one year for nine other patients. Serum globulin was analyzed by three different methods, and the deficiency was most noticeable in the alpha globulin fraction (alpha1 >>alpha2). When hypoglobulinemia occurred in control hospital in-patients (11%) it was associated with chronic or severe illnesses, and limited nutritional intake, but similar medical problems were absent in the acromegalic patients. There was no correlation of the hypoglobulinemia in the 35 acromegalic patients to their growth hormone (GH) concentration (r = 0.07), ages, sex, treatment status, or to the seriousness or duration of the acromegaly. The pathophysiology of the apparent hypoglobulinemia in acromegaly is unknown, but may be related to transport and/or disposal of excess growth hormone, or a defect in protein synthesis.

Key words

Acromegaly - Growth Hormone - Albumin - Globulin - Hypoglobulinemia

1 This research was self supported, and in part by USPHS General Clinical Research Center Grant RR-43

1 This research was self supported, and in part by USPHS General Clinical Research Center Grant RR-43

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