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Back to Endocrine Diseases
Acromegaly
Growth hormone excess produces acromegaly if it happens during adulthood.
Clinical suspicion
Suspect when manifestations characteristic of acromegaly are present.
These include acromegalic facies (prominent orbital ridges, large nose,
prominent lower jaw and thickening of the lips), thick skin, enlargement
of the hand and foot, visceromegaly, dorsal kyphosis and macroglossia, carpal
tunnel syndrome, hypertension and cardiomyopathy in addition to an increased
incidence of ischemic heart disease. Endocrinal manifestations include diabetes,
galactorrhoea, menstrual irregularities. Acromegaly is sometimes very difficult
to diagnose as the manifestations evolve very gradually.
Diagnosis
Once suspected diagnostic investigations include glucose tolerance test
and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, somatomedin C) assays.
1. Glucose tolerance test: Normally growth hormone is suppressed after
oral intake of 50mg of glucose due to inhibition of GHRH secretion. In cases
of acromegaly growth hormone levels fail to suppress or may even rise.
2. insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1, somatomedin C) assays are
always elevated in acromegaly and do not fluctuate like growth hormone levels.
Treatment
Treatment is mainly surgical (transfenoidal adenectomy or hypophysectomy
of the acidophil adenoma is the treatment of choice if the case is urgent
and accompanied by complications such as visual field defects.
Bromocriptine paradoxically leads to a significant reduction in growth
hormone levels. Cabergonline is another dopaminergic agent used to reduce
growth hormone levels in gigantism.
Octreotide is a synthetic somatostatin analogue which is more effective
than bromocryptine.
External radiotherapy is an option in treating acidophil adenomas.
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