Journal
JOURNAL OF VOICE
Volume 35, Issue 6, Pages -Publisher
MOSBY-ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.01.006
Keywords
Acromegaly; Voice; Insulin-like Growth Factor 1; Somatostatin analogue; Voice handicap index
Funding
- IPSEN Pharmaceuticals
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study investigated voice changes in acromegaly patients during the first 2.5 years of treatment, finding a decrease in voice handicap index scores and improvement in mucosal edema and hypertrophy, with no significant changes in objective voice parameters. The findings suggest that while voice characteristics in acromegaly patients are typically normal, they may change during treatment, highlighting the importance of addressing voice complaints for quality of life.
Background. Active acromegaly is characterized by Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-1 excess. Voice complaints are common in active acromegaly and are suggested to be caused by effects of Growth Hormone or IGF-1 on vocal folds and the surrounding soft tissues. Prospective studies on the course of voice characteristics in acromegaly patients are scarce and results are conflicting. This study investigates objective changes in voice parameters, self-reported perception of voice and laryngostroboscopic features during the first 2.5 years of acromegaly treatment. Material and Method. In this prospective study, acoustic voice analysis (and videolaryngostroboscopic examination were performed in 27 consecutive treatment-naive acromegaly patients at diagnosis (T-0), after 1 year (T-1) and after 2.5 years (T-2) of treatment. The voice handicap index (VHI-30) questionnaire was taken. Results. During acromegaly treatment, VHI scores decreased, and mucosal edema & hypertrophy diminished. No significant changes in objective voice parameters were detected. The within-subject change in serum IGF-1 levels (97.3 (40.6-208) to 22.4 (10.2-34.1) nmol/L (P < 0.001)) during follow-up correlated positively with the changes in VHI questionnaire scores (R 0.32-0.45; P = 0.002-0.03). Conclusions. At diagnosis and during acromegaly treatment, mean VHI scores were in the normal range, although they decreased during follow-up. Mucosal edema and hypertrophy largely resolved during treatment. No significant changes in objective voice parameters were observed. Voice characteristics are in the normal range in patients with acromegaly, but may change during treatment. However, voice complaints are important to discuss, since they may influence quality of life.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available