Arthropathy in acromegaly: Evaluation of Progression, characteristics of Osteophytes, quality of Life and medical care, Imaging and Structure of cartilage in acromegalic patients 2016 (ACROPOLIS 2016)

Despite long-term cure of acromegaly, patients have decreased quality of life
scores and a high prevalence of co-morbidity, especially arthropathy and
hypertension. Joint problems were reported in 77% of the patients with
long-term cured acromegaly. In the baseline visit of the ACROPOLIS study we
reported that patients with acromegaly frequently have generalized radiological
and clinical osteoarthritis. However, the distribution of radiological
abnormalities, such as osteophytes and joint space narrowing is different
compared with primary osteoarthritis. In our first follow-up visit, 2.5 years
after baseline, we reported radiographic progression in over 70% of patients.
Subjective progression and clinical complaints deteriorated as well. As
previously described, changes in clinical symptoms were not associated with
radiographic progression. Moreover, we reported that treatment with SMS
analogues was associated with an increased radiographic osteoarthritis
progression.

We aim to further study the characteristics of joint disease in acromegaly and
its progression, in order to improve care for this patient group and to get
insight into the pathogenesis of osteophytes and cartilage hypertrophy in
acromegaly and in primary osteoarthritis.

Cross-sectional longitudinal observational follow-up study

NVT