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Review
. 2017 Jun;40(6):577-589.
doi: 10.1007/s40618-017-0614-1. Epub 2017 Feb 7.

Pegvisomant in acromegaly: an update

A Giustina  1 , G Arnaldi  2 , F Bogazzi  3 , S Cannavò  4 , A Colao  5 , L De Marinis  6 , E De Menis  7 , E Degli Uberti  8 , F Giorgino  9 , S Grottoli  10 , A G Lania  11 , P Maffei  12 , R Pivonello  13 , E Ghigo  14
Affiliations
Review

Pegvisomant in acromegaly: an update

A Giustina et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2017 Jun.

Erratum in

  • Correction to: Pegvisomant in acromegaly: an update.
    Giustina A, Arnaldi G, Bogazzi F, Cannavò S, Colao A, De Marinis L, De Menis E, Degli Uberti E, Giorgino F, Grottoli S, Lania AG, Maffei P, Pivonello R, Ghigo E. Giustina A, et al. J Endocrinol Invest. 2018 Feb;41(2):267. doi: 10.1007/s40618-017-0800-1. J Endocrinol Invest. 2018. PMID: 29285678 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Background: In 2007, we published an opinion document to review the role of pegvisomant (PEG) in the treatment of acromegaly. Since then, new evidence emerged on the biochemical and clinical effects of PEG and on its long-term efficacy and safety.

Aim: We here reviewed the emerging aspects of the use of PEG in clinical practice in the light of the most recent literature.

Results: The clinical use of PEG is still suboptimal, considering that it remains the most powerful tool to control IGF-I in acromegaly allowing to obtain, with a pharmacological treatment, the most important clinical effects in terms of signs and symptoms, quality of life and comorbidities. The number of patients with acromegaly exposed to PEG worldwide has become quite elevated and the prolonged follow-up allows now to deal quite satisfactorily with many clinical issues including major safety issues, such as the concerns about possible tumour (re)growth under PEG. The positive or neutral impact of PEG on glucose metabolism has been highlighted, and the clinical experience, although limited, with sleep apnoea and pregnancy has been reviewed. Finally, the current concept of somatostatin receptor ligands (SRL) resistance has been addressed, in order to better define the acromegaly patients to whom the PEG option may be offered.

Conclusions: PEG increasingly appears to be an effective and safe medical option for many patients not controlled by SRL but its use still needs to be optimized.

Keywords: Acromegaly; IGF-I; Metabolic effects; Pegvisomant; Review; SRL resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

De Marinis is principal investigator for Pfizer, Novartis, and Ipsen; Grottoli is recipient of research grant and support from Pfizer, Novartis and Ipsen and takes part as expert at advisory board of Pfizer and Novartis; Ghigo is member of the Pfizer ACROSTUDY international advisory board and is occasionally consultant for Novartis. Giustina is consultant for Ipsen, Novartis, and Pfizer.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed Consent

For this type of study formal consent is not required.

References

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    1. Giustina A, Karamouzis I, Patelli I, Mazziotti G. Octreotide for acromegaly treatment: a reappraisal. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2013;14(17):2433–2447. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2013.847090. - DOI - PubMed
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