Browsing by Author "Karaca, Z"

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    The Importance of DHEA-S Levels in Cushing's Syndrome; Is There a Cut-off Value in the Differential Diagnosis?
    Ciftci, S; Soyluk, O; Selek, A; Erol, S; Hekimsoy, Z; Esen, A; Dursun, H; Sahin, S; Oruk, G; Mert, M; Soylu, H; Yurekli, BS; Ertorer, ME; Omma, T; Evran, M; Adas, M; Tanrikulu, S; Aydin, K; Pekkolay, Z; Can, B; Karakilic, E; Karaca, Z; Bilen, H; Canturk, Z; Cetinarslan, B; Kadioglu, P; Yarman, S
    The purpose of this study was to determine possible cut-off levels of basal DHEA-S percentile rank in the differential diagnosis of patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS) with ACTH levels in the gray zone and normal DHEA-S levels. In this retrospective study including 623 pathologically confirmed CS, the DHEA-S percentile rank was calculated in 389 patients with DHEA-S levels within reference interval. The patients were classified as group 1 (n=265 Cushing's disease; CD), group 2 (n=104 adrenal CS) and group 3 (n=20 ectopic ACTH syndrome).ROC-curve analyses were used to calculate the optimal cut-off level of DHEA-S percentile rank in the reference interval in the differential diagnosis of CS, and the effectiveness of this cut-off level in the identification of the accurate etiology of CS was assessed in patients who were in gray zone according to their ACTH levels. The DHEA-S percentile rank in the reference interval were significantly lower in group 2 compared to the other two groups (p<0.001), while group 1 and group 3 had similar levels. The optimal cut-off level of DHEA-S percentile rank in the reference interval providing differential diagnosis between group 1 and group 2 was calculated as 19.5th percentile (80.8% sensitivity, 81.5% specificity) and the level demonstrated the accurate etiology in 100% of CD and 76% of adrenal CS patients who were in the gray zone. This study showed that the cut-off value of DHEA-S level less than 20% of the reference interval could be used for differential diagnosis of CD and adrenal CS with high sensitivity and specificity, and it should be taken into the initial evaluation.
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    Cutaneous findings in patients with acromegaly and its relationship with concomitant endocrinopathies
    An, IS; Kahraman, FC; Bilgic, A; Aktürk, AS; Albayrak, H; Kartal, D; Cinar, SL; Solak, SS; Uslu, M; Sanli, HE; Yildizhan, IK; Sahin, MT; Zindanci, I; Savas, S; Ayhan, E; Cinel, M; Atas, ENS; Aydemir, M; Selek, A; Elbueken, G; Zuhur, SS; Karaca, Z; Bülbül, BY; Ünübol, M; Demir, O; Hekimsoy, Z; Tuna, M; Asilsoy, M; Çetin, S
    ObjectivesSkin changes in acromegaly are often the first sign of the disease. The aim of this study was to describe the cutaneous findings in patients with acromegaly. In addition, a secondary aim was to investigate the possible association of these findings with remission status and concomitant endocrinopathies.Design, Patients, and MeasurementsIn this prospective multicenter study, 278 patients over the age of 18 years with acromegaly who were followed up in 14 different tertiary healthcare institutions were included. These patients, who were followed up by the Endocrinology Department, were then referred to a dermatologist for dermatological examination. The frequency of skin lesions was investigated by detailed dermatologic examination. Dermatological diagnosis is reached by clinical, dermatological and/or dermoscopic examination, and rarely skin punch biopsy examinations in suspicious cases. The possible association of the skin findings between remitted and nonremitted patients and with concomitant endocrinopathies were evaluated.ResultsThe most common skin findings in patients with acromegaly in our study were skin tags (52.5%), cherry angiomas (47.4%), seborrhoea (37%), varicose veins (33%), acneiform lesions (28.8%), hyperhidrosis (26.9%) and hypertrichosis (18.3%). Hypertrichosis was significantly more prevalent in patients nonremitted (p: .001), while xerosis cutis was significantly more prevalent in patients remitted (p: .001). The frequency of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism was significantly higher in patients with varicose veins and seborrhoeic keratosis than those without. Additionally, the coexistence of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and galactorrhea was significantly higher in patients with Cherry angioma than in those without Cherry angioma (p-values: .024, .034 and .027, respectively). The frequency of hypogonadism in those with xerosis cutis was significantly higher than in those without (p: .035).ConclusionsCutaneous androgenization findings such as skin tag, seborrhoea, acne and acanthosis nigricans are common in patients with acromegaly. Clinicians should be aware that skin findings associated with insulin resistance may develop in these patients. It can be said that the remission state in acromegaly has no curative effect on cutaneous findings. Only patients in remission were less likely to have hypertrichosis. This may allow earlier review of the follow-up and treatment of acromegaly patients presenting with complaints of hypertrichosis. Additionally, it can be said that patients with skin findings such as cherry angioma may be predisposed to a second endocrinopathy, especially hypothyroidism. Including dermatology in a multidisciplinary perspective in acromegaly patient management would be beneficial to detect cutaneous findings earlier.
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    Comparison of clinical, hormonal, pathological and treatment outcomes of ectopic Cushing's syndrome by sex: results of a multicenter study
    Ciftci, S; Yilmaz, N; Selcukbiricik, OS; Hekimsoy, Z; Canpolat, AG; Topsakal, S; Yaylali, GF; Misiroglu, F; Gul, N; Uzum, AK; Hacioglu, A; Yorulmaz, G; Ozisik, H; Yurekli, BS; Pekkolay, Z; Turgut, S; Karaca, Z; Duran, C; Kebapci, MN; Yarman, S
    Objective: To compare clinical and hormonal data, neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) localization, treatment, and survival outcomes in ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS) by sex. Methods: Eleven experienced centers from our country participated in this retrospective study. The clinical and hormonal features, tumor imaging, pathological results, treatment modalities, and disease courses of the patients were evaluated. Results: 28 female and 26 male patients with ECS were compared. The mean age at diagnosis, clinical characteristics, and hormonal evaluation results were similar. However, insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus (p = 0.04) and osteoporosis with fractures were more common in males (p = 0.03). While more patients with increased DHEA-S levels than the upper limit of normal were found to be higher in females, central hypothyroidism were higher in males (p = 0.02). At the diagnosis, 36 NENs (68% of females and 69% of males) were localized. Small cell lung carcinoma was higher in males (p = 0.02), and the frequency of other NENs was not different. Curative surgery was performed on 61% of females and 46% of males. Tumor size, Ki-67 labeling index, positive ACTH immunostaining, local lymph node and distant metastasis rates were similar in both sexes. In the follow-up, the tumor became visible in 7 of 10 females and 4 of 8 males after medical treatment and/or bilateral adrenalectomy. The remission rates (65% of females, 62% of males) and NEN-related death rates (14% of females, 30% of males) were similar. Conclusion: While ECS has a similar disease course in many aspects in males and females, hyperglycemia and osteoporosis are more severe in males.
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    Evaluation and follow-up of patients diagnosed with hypophysitis: a cohort study
    Hacioglu, A; Karaca, Z; Uysal, S; Ozkaya, HM; Kadioglu, P; Selcukbiricik, OS; Gul, N; Yarman, S; Koksalan, D; Selek, A; Canturk, Z; Cetinarslan, B; Corapcioglu, D; Sahin, M; Unal, FTS; Babayeva, A; Akturk, M; Ciftci, S; Piskinpasa, H; Dokmetas, HS; Dokmetas, M; Sahin, O; Eraydin, A; Fenkci, S; Ozturk, S; Akarsu, E; Omma, T; Erkan, B; Burhan, S; Koroglu, EP; Saygili, F; Kan, EK; Atmaca, A; Elbuken, G; Uc, ZA; Gorar, S; Hekimsoy, Z; Pekkolay, Z; Bostan, H; Bayram, F; Yorulmaz, G; Sener, SY; Turan, K; Celik, O; Dogruel, H; Ertorer, E; Iyidir, OT; Topaloglu, O; Cansu, GB; Unluhizarci, K; Kelestimur, F
    Objective Primary hypophysitis might be challenging to diagnose, and there is a lack of evidence regarding optimal treatment strategies due to rarity of the disease. We aim to investigate the clinical features and compare the outcomes of different management strategies of primary hypophysitis in a large group of patients recruited on a nationwide basis.Design A retrospective observational study.Methods The demographic, clinical, and radiologic features and follow-up data were collected in study protocol templates and analyzed.Results One hundred and thirteen patients (78.8% female, median age: 36 years) were included. Lymphocytic (46.7%) and granulomatous hypophysitis (35.6%) were the prevailing subtypes out of 45 patients diagnosed after pathologic investigations. Headache (75.8%) was the most common symptom, and central hypogonadism (49.5%) was the most common hormone insufficiency. Of the patients, 52.2% were clinically observed without interventions, 18.6% were started on glucocorticoid therapy, and 29.2% underwent surgery at presentation. Headache, suprasellar extension, and chiasmal compression were more common among glucocorticoid-treated patients than who were observed. Cox regression analysis revealed higher hormonal and radiologic improvement rates in the glucocorticoid-treated group than observation group (hazard ratio, 4.60; 95% CI, 1.62-12.84 and HR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.40-6.68, respectively). The main indication for surgery was the inability to exclude a pituitary adenoma in the presence of compression symptoms, with a recurrence rate of 9%.Conclusion The rate of spontaneous improvement might justify observation in mild cases. Glucocorticoids proved superior to observation in terms of hormonal and radiologic improvements. Surgery may not be curative and might be considered in indeterminate, treatment-resistant, or severe cases.
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    Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Hypervitaminosis D Among Adult Patients Admitted to the Tertiary Care Hospitals in Turkey
    Yavuz, DG; Ersoy, R; Altuntas, Y; Bilen, H; Pamuk, B; Apaydin, T; Temizkan, S; Altuntas, H; Mert, M; Akalin, A; Sert, M; Simsri, IY; Hekimsoy, Z; Cantürk, Z; Üç, ZA; Iplikci, S; Yasar, M; Unubol, M; Sezer, K; Toplaoglu, Ö; Iyidir, ÖT; Pekkolay, Z; Atmaca, A; Dikbas, O; Özdemir, N; Gül, K; Deniz, F; Ertörer, E; Karaca, Z; Elbüken, G; Arpaci, D; Agbaht, K; Turan, E; Anaforoglu, I; Bayraktaroglu, T; Haklar, G; Daglioglu, G; Tuzcu, A; Sahin, I; Çetinkalp, S
    Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem around the world. This study aimed to evaluate the nationwide prevalence of vitamin D status in tertiary care hospitals in Turkey. Methods: Retrospectively, the data on vitamin D levels from 33 tertiary care hospitals' clinical bio-chemistry laboratories around Turkey between January and December were collected. Results: In total, 706 434 serum samples from adult subjects (female/male: 469 028/237 406; 66.4%/33.6%) were included. While vitamin D levels were sufficient in 20.3% (n = 14 222), they were insufficient in 21.9% (n = 154 360) and deficient in 57.8% (n = 408 882). We observed the highest rates of deficiency in those aged between 18 and 29 years (62.9%, n = 70 235) and lowest rates between 60 and 69 years (52.3%, n = 61 121) and between 70 and 79 years (52.3%, n = 32 397). Hypervitaminosis D was detected in 5.5% of adult subjects; highest rates of hypervitaminosis D were observed in those who were over 80 years (6.6%) and 70-79 years (6.5%) and the lowest in 18-29 years (2.8%). Discussion: In this cohort, over half of the subjects admitted to the tertiary care hospitals in Turkey had vitamin D deficiency and required vitamin D supplementation. The elderly population had the lowest prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and the highest prevalence of hypervitaminosis D.