Acromegaly is caused by the pituitary gland secreting too much human growth hormone, resulting in excessive growth of the body and organs. It is a rare disease that can be treated through surgery, radiation, or medication, but early diagnosis is crucial for a better prognosis.
Acromegaly is a condition caused by the pituitary gland secreting too much human growth hormone. Due to excessive amounts of this hormone, a person’s body and extremities can become too large. Organs can increase dramatically in size, and the most common form of death among those with acromegaly is cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart grows too large and stops functioning normally.
Acromegaly most commonly affects middle-aged people. It is a very rare disease affecting only about 4,000 people per million. In many cases, malfunctioning of the pituitary gland is the result of a non-cancerous tumor on the gland. Removal of the tumor or the use of radiation to reduce the size of the tumor may have some success. This may not lead to a reduction in the size of the organs in which acromegaly is pronounced.
However, early stage acromegaly is often quite treatable through the above options or through surgery that reduces the swelling around the pituitary gland. Generally this surgical procedure is effective in those with growth hormone levels considered to be moderately high.
Medications can also be used to treat acromegaly by making the tumor smaller or reducing the amount of growth hormone it produces. Some of these drugs are difficult to take, as they must be injected. They can also inhibit pancreatic functions, which can create other health problems. Drug users require significant monitoring.
Acromegaly can be difficult to diagnose, as excess growth hormone may not always manifest itself in symptoms that affect physical appearance. However, when it is suspected, it can be easily diagnosed by assessing growth hormone levels in the body through blood tests. When the condition is diagnosed, patients may need to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiograms, computed tomography (CT) scans, and other tests to look for impact on organs. CT scans can also help identify the location of tumors.
The prognosis for acromegaly depends on early identification and treatment. The condition will require lifelong follow-up and medical treatment, but those who have the condition identified before the age of 40 tend to live a normal life expectancy. Early treatment tends to avoid the development of life-threatening symptoms such as loss of liver or heart function.
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