Abstract
Acromegaly is a rare disease with insiduous onset of clinical, endocrine and local, manifestations, and therefore often delayed diagnosis. Acral enlargement like prognathism and a bulky sweaty handshake, hyperhidrosis and thickening of the skin are almost always present, and, because of the cardiorespiratory comorbidities mortality is threefold increased compared to the normal population. Measurement of hGH level > 1ng/mL after an oral glucose load and of elevated IGF-1 confirm the diagnosis. A pituitary macroadenoma can be shown by MRI in over 90 % of the patients, in less than 1 % an ectopic source of hGH or GHRH may be the cause. The aim of the treatment is to stop the hGH overproduction and to prevent complications. The treatment of choice is transsphenoidal surgery, often combined with pharmacological therapy with long-acting somatostatin analogs, pegvisomant and dopamine agonists, or gamma knife radiosurgery.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
