Sarcopenia in hypophysis diseases

Objective: Since sarcopenia causes many morbidities, there has been an increasing interest in this subject in recent years. The hormonal mechanisms in its etiopathophysiology suggest that there may be a relationship between pituitary diseases and sarcopenia. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of sarcopenia in pituitary diseases. Materials and Methods: This study included 100 patients between the ages of 18-65 who applied to the Endocrinology and Metabolism clinic of Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine between January 2023-March 2024 and had pituitary disease (pituitary adenoma, empty sella or pituitary insufficiency) and 100 healthy volunteers. In the evaluation of sarcopenia, SARC-F questionnaire, hand grip strength, chair stand test, muscle mass measurement with bioelectrical impedance analysis and timed-up and go test (TUG) were applied, and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2019 (EWGSOP2) diagnostic criteria were used in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Results: The patient (n:100) and the control group (n:100) were similar in terms of age (41,04±11.79 and 39,15±11.81) (p=0,259) and gender (39 men, 61 women). The patient group consisted of pituitary adenoma (85%) and non-adenoma lesion (15%) cases. Of the pituitary adenomas, 32,9% had non-functional adenoma, 28,3% had acromegaly, 25,9% had prolactinoma, and 12,9% had Cushing's disease. In the pituitary patients group compared to the control group respectively, SARC-F positivity (19%-1%), probable sarcopenia (40%-16%), low muscle mass (48%-13%) and confirmed sarcopenia (22%-3%) rates were found to be significantly higher (p<0,001). Sarcopenia rates were significantly higher also in non-functional adenoma, acromegaly, prolactinoma and Cushing's disease groups compared to the control group (p<0,001). SARC-F positivity, probable sarcopenia, low muscle mass and confirmed sarcopenia rates were higher in patients with pituitary disease accompanied by obesity (p<0,001). In the pituitary patient group without obesity, SARC-F positivity and possible sarcopenia rates were higher than the control group (p<0,001). Conclusion: SARC-F positivity, low muscle mass, possible and confirmed sarcopenia rates are significantly higher in both the pituitary patient group and the non-functional adenoma, acromegaly, prolactinoma and Cushing's disease subgroups compared to the control group. Obesity accompanying pituitary disease increases the rate of sarcopenia. Keywords: Acromegaly, Cushing, Pituitary, Prolactinoma, Sarcopenia