Abstract
CONTEXT: Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, debilitating disorder caused by prolonged hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and overproduction of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Medical therapies, including the somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) pasireotide, are frequently used to restore biochemical control. OBJECTIVE: As patients often receive therapy over prolonged periods, long-term data from real-life settings are needed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed using a prospectively maintained database of all patients with acromegaly from our primary care center who were enrolled in clinical studies with pasireotide (first visit November 2008). The main outcome measures were safety and biochemical control (age-adjusted IGF-I ≤ upper limit of normal). RESULTS: Patients (n = 50) entered 4 parental studies and 30 continued in the rollover; at data cutoff (June 2022), 27 were still receiving pasireotide. Overall, median (range) exposure was 58 (3-137) months. Normal IGF-I was achieved in 54%, and acromegaly symptoms and quality of life were improved with treatment. No predictors of pasireotide response were identified; however, controlled patients had smaller tumors and lower GH at baseline. Tumor volume reduction occurred in 63% of evaluable patients (n = 10/16). Most patients presented hyperglycemic events, including 63.2% of patients with normal glucose before treatment. Older patients and those with higher IGF-I, glucose, and HbA1c at baseline had higher glucose and HbA1c during pasireotide treatment. CONCLUSION: Pasireotide provided clinical benefit and was well tolerated for more than 11 years of treatment in acromegaly patients, most of whom were resistant to first-generation SRLs.