Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Bjørn Olav Åsvold, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Sebastian J.C.M.M. Neggers, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Ragnhild Røysland, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Kåre Inge Birkeland, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Nicoleta Cristina Olarescu, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Mortality has previously been shown to be increased in patients with acromegaly. However, recent studies show a normalized mortality, similar to the general population. Still data indicate an increased cancer risk and low surgical cure rates. Acromegaly is associated with metabolic complications including diabetes, despite a favorable body composition of decreased fat mass and increased lean mass. The mechanisms behind this paradox are only partially understood. We investigated mortality, cancer risk and surgical cure rates in patients with acromegaly in Norway. In addition, changes in gene expression and adipose tissue mass after treatment were studied. We found that mortality was no longer increased, in contrast to the cancer risk that appeared to be slightly increased. Surgical cure rates were low, but with additional treatment most patients obtained disease control. Increased inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the fat tissue in active disease, potentially negatively influencing the metabolism. Treatment lead to improvement of diabetes despite an increase in fat mass.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.