Acromegaly
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Table of contents
Overview
Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder characterized by overproduction of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland at the base of the brain that is involved in the synthesis of several hormones, including GH.
The first symptom of this condition is abnormal growth of the hands and feet and, more generally, an increase in the bones. Although acromegaly can develop at any age, it usually affects middle-aged women and men.
Because Acromegaly is not common and the physical changes are very slow, it sometimes takes 3 to 6 years to be diagnosed and can lead to serious complications such as severe joint damage and cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
In Europe, acromegaly occurs in about 1.2 in 10,000 people.
The most widely accepted treatment goal is to address the source of growth hormone overproduction. Typical treatments include surgery and/or medical treatment. With proper medical treatment, progression of the disease can be halted or symptoms reduced.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose acromegaly by ordering two blood tests that help determine if the body is making too much GH. The first is the IGF test. First, the level of IGF-I in the blood is measured. This is a reliable way to detect GH in the body. A high IGF-I level indicates acromegaly. Second, an oral glucose tolerance test will confirm the diagnosis, as growth hormone and blood glucose levels are related.
If blood tests confirm that the body is making too much GH, imaging tests are performed to locate and measure the tumor that may be causing the problem. The preferred test for viewing a pituitary tumor is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Symptoms
Patients with acromegaly may develop the following signs and symptoms:
- Hands and feet get bigger and swollen-you may notice a change in ring or shoe size, especially shoe size
- Lips, nose and tongue grow larger
- Enlarged facial features, causing protrusion of the bow and lower jaw, nasal bone enlargement and protruding teeth
- Oily, thickened and hairy skin
- Excessive sweating
- Deepening the voice
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Heavy snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
Causes
Acromegaly is characterized by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland at the base of the brain that produces various hormones, including growth hormone.
Growth hormone stimulates growth, cell reproduction, cell regeneration and the production of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) once it enters the bloodstream. If too much GH is secreted, excess IGF-1 can lead to acromegaly and gigantism.
In 95% of cases, acromegaly is caused by a non-cancerous tumor of the pituitary gland, a pituitary adenoma.
Patients Association
Living with acromegaly - https://www.levenmetacromegalie.com
