acromegaly

Treatments

Surgery to remove the pituitary tumor that is causing this condition usually corrects the abnormal growth hormone release in most patients. Sometimes the tumor is too large to remove completely. People who do not respond to surgery will have radiation of the pituitary gland. However, the reduction in growth hormone levels after radiation is very slow.

The following medications may be used to treat acromegaly:

Octreotide (Sandostatin) or bromocriptine (Parlodel) may control growth hormone release in some people.

Pegvisomant (Somavert) directly blocks the effects of growth hormone, and has been shown to improve symptoms of acromegaly.

These medications may be used before surgery, after surgery, or when surgery is not possible.

After treatment, you will need to see your health care provider regularly to make sure that the pituitary gland is working normally. Yearly evaluations are recommended.

Acromegaly

Signs and Tests

High growth hormone level

High insulin-like growth factor level

Spine x-ray shows abnormal bone growth

Pituitary MRI may show a pituitary tumor

Echocardiogram may show an enlarged heart, leaky mitral valve, or leaky aortic valve

This disease may also change the results of the following tests:

Fasting plasma glucose

Glucose tolerance test

Nina Alfano

Symptoms

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Decreased muscle strength

Easy fatigue

Excessive height

Excessive sweating

Joint pain

Large bones of the face

Large feet

Large hands

Large glands in the skin

Large jaw and tongue

Limited joint movement

Swelling of the bony areas around a joint

Thickening of the skin, skin tags

Causes

The cause of the increased growth hormone release is usually a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland controls the production and release of several different hormones, including growth hormone.

Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a long-term condition in which there is too much growth hormone and the body tissues get larger over time.

Acromegaly occurs in about 6 of every 100,000 adults. It is caused by abnormal production of growth hormone after the skeleton and other organs finish growing.