Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage in Acromegaly Patients in a Follow-up Study at a Public Tertiary Health Service

Abstract

We evaluated oxidative stress (OS) and DNA damage in acromegaly patients in a follow-up study at a public tertiary health service. Acromegaly patients in follow up at a public tertiary health service from 2012 to 2013 were enrolled in this study. Healthy volunteers were selected as control group. OS was evaluated in plasma and peripheral lymphocytes by determining total antioxidant capacity (TAP), lipophilic antioxidant levels and lipid peroxidation through malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. DNA damage was determined using the comet test. Fifteen acromegaly patients and 19 healthy individuals were included. Considering IGF1 levels<1.3´ the upper limit of the normal range as disease under control, 20% of individuals were uncontrolled for the disease. No significant difference in total carotenoid levels, TAP, or DNA damage was found between groups (respectively, 62.8 and 46, p=0.13; 51.3 and 43.5, p=0.093; 41.4.0 and 47.2, p=0.15). On the other hand, median MDA levels in the acromegaly group was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.44 and 0.977, respectively; p<0.001, Mann-Whitney test). A subgroup comparison within acromegaly patients revealed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between those with normal or increased IGF1 levels, with or without metabolic syndrome, or with or without use of statin (0.4 vs. 0.436, 0.42 vs. 0.5 and 0.533 vs, 0.413, respectively). Acromegaly patients when compared with a healthy control group did not present significantly higher levels of OS, antioxidants and DNA damage. However, most patients included in our study achieved disease control.