Acute leukaemia in acromegaly patients

Br J Haematol. 2000 Sep;110(4):871-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.02262.x.

Abstract

Acromegaly patients are known to have an increased risk of malignancies, especially colonic adenocarcinoma. This may be as a result of the growth-stimulating effect of growth hormone (GH). The clustering of leukaemia in children treated with GH has also caused concern. There have been a few reports of leukaemia in acromegaly patients. We report two patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and one patient with acute myeloid leukaemia among 106 acromegaly patients treated over a 15-year period. Two of the cases received radiotherapy as part of their treatment. Adjusted for age and follow-up years, the incidence of leukaemia in this cohort is significantly higher than the general population. The incidence is also higher than would be expected as a result of radiotherapy alone, suggesting that GH may play a synergistic role.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / complications*
  • Acromegaly / surgery
  • Acute Disease
  • Adenoma / complications
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / surgery
  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Leukemia / complications*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / complications
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / therapy
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / complications
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / therapy
  • Male
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Risk

Substances

  • Growth Hormone