Lacrimal gland enlargement and tear film changes in acromegaly patients: A controlled study

Abstract Purpose Evaluation of the lacrimal gland volume (LGV) and its correlation with tear film functions, serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in acromegaly patients compared to a control group was aimed. Methods This prospective case-control study included the eyes of 38 patients with uncontrolled (UA) and 48 patients with controlled acromegaly (CA) and 44 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. LGV of the patients was evaluated at the baseline, 3rd, and 6th-month visits with magnetic resonance imaging. Schirmer's test, tear breakup time (TBUT), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores were evaluated at the same visits. Their correlation with serum IGF-1 and GH was investigated. Main outcome measure was the difference in mean LGV. Results The mean LGV of the acromegaly patients at the baseline visit (116.0 ± 33.2 mm3) and the 3rd-month visit (119.5 ± 36.4 mm3) was higher than the control group (65.2 ± 22.3 mm3 and 63.2 ± 22.3 mm3, respectively; p   0.05). Among all patients, IGF-1 and GH levels showed a positive correlation with the LGV (p   0.05). Conclusion Acromegaly patients may have larger lacrimal glands compared to the controls and this increase correlated with the increased IGF-1 and GH levels. Lacrimal gland volume may have no effect on its tear film related functions.