Acromegaly

Acromegaly is an overproduction of growth hormone (GH) during adulthood (Copstead-Kirkhorn & Banasik, 2013).

Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

GH production is increased during childhood and teen years in order to prepare and stimulate the body for growth. The level of GH decreases steadily throughout an adult’s life at a rate of 50 percent every seven years (Melmed, 2013a). GH is dispersed in a pulse like fashion throughout the day with about 10 disbursements a day. In patients that have acromegaly this pattern is disrupted by an adenoma that produces a constant level GH throughout the day. For adults this stimulates growth but the growth plates have closed which makes the symptoms very different than a child with gigantism. The increase in GH production causes the liver to increase production of Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1 ). “The increase in production of GH/IGF-1 causes growth of connective tissue, intracellular swelling, and bony proliferation (McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 22).” The increase in GH/IGF-1 causes a hyperglycemic state due to a reduction in peripheral glucose uptake and an increase liver production of glucose by the liver. The pancreas responds by producing more insulin with an end result of insulin resistance and diabetes type 2. Other major organs affected by acromegaly are the heart and kidneys. Unrestricted Growth in the heart causes cardiomyopathy and all the associated symptoms. The kidneys increase reabsorption of phosphate causing a slight increase in phosphate levels (Melmed, 2013b).

Genetics[edit | edit source]

Early research is finding that there is likely a mutant gene that causes some cases of acromegaly.

Epidemiology[edit | edit source]

Acromegaly is a rare disease that affects an estimated 6 people per million a year (Melmed, 2013b). There are no nationwide statics collected making it difficult to collect accurate numbers for the United States. Some studies estimate that the number could be as high as 1000 per million (Melmed, 2014). These numbers are based on random screenings of IGF-1. The age of onset is usually in the early forties.

Disease described[edit | edit source]

Acromegaly is an over production of GH that stimulates the liver to produce IGF-1. This causes physical and metabolic changes. Physical changes include growth of soft tissue to include skin, cartilage, connective tissue, bone, viscera and epithelial tissue (Melmed, 2014). Progression of the disease is slow and steady with an average interval from onset to diagnoses being 12 years (Colao, Ferone, Marzullo, & Lombardi, 2004). This is usually caused by an adenoma of the anterior pituitary that secretes GH. In a few cases tumors are in remote locations such as the lungs, pancreas, hypothalamus, or adrenal glands (Melmed, 2014). These tumors either produce GH or GHRH.

Sign and Symptoms[edit | edit source]

(Copstead-Kirkhorn & Banasik, 2013), (Melmed, 2013b)

severe snoring and sleep apnea in a non-obese patient
enlarged hands with increased ring size
increased foot size
enlargement of the frontal sinus
growth of the mandible causing an under bite,
deepening of the voice secondary to vocal cord thickening and large tongue
skin becomes thick
hypertrophy of the soft tissue
increased size of internal organs
hyperthyroidism
arthritis
kyphosis
peripheral neuropathies due nerve impingement
cardiovascular disease
headaches
vision loss
type 2 diabetes are possible associated findings

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Initial test for suspected acromegaly is a Serum level IGF-1 (Copstead-Kirkhorn & Banasik, 2013). If negative than the disease is ruled out. If the IGF-1 is elevated then an oral glucose tolerance test is performed along with measurement of GH levels (Melmed, 2014, para. 9). If inadequate suppression of GH then a MRI of the pituitary is performed. If normal, a CT of the chest and abdomen is performed along with measurements of growth hormone-releasing hormone and the diagnosis is Extra-pituitary acromegaly. If the MRI is positive for mass or empty sella, the diagnosis is GH-secreting pituitary adenoma.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

The first line treatment is surgical removal of the tumor followed by with octreotide therapy to reduce the size of the remaining tumor and reverses many of the clinical manifestations (Copstead-Kirkhorn & Banasik, 2013), (McCance & Huether, 2014). It is important to note that most of the time the tumors are too big to remove completely. Radiation is utilized when the patient is not a surgical candidate or if the surgery is unable to remove most of the tumor.

Links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Colao, A., Ferone, D., Marzullo, P., & Lombardi, G. (2004). Systemic complications of acromegaly: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. Endocr Rev, 25(1), 102.
Copstead-Kirkhorn, L., & Banasik, J. (2013). Pathophysiology, (5th ed.). Retrieved from http://store.vitalsource.com/
McCance, K., & Huether, S. (2014). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis of disease in adults and children (7th ed.). V. Valentine, & N. Rote (Eds.). [Kno version]. Retrieved from kno.com
Melmed, S. (2013a). Causes and clinical manifestations of acromegaly. In K. Martin (Ed.), Uptodate. Retrieved from uptodate.com
Melmed, S. (2013b). Physiology of growth hormone. In K. Martin (Ed.), Uptodate. Retrieved from Uptodate.com
Melmed, S. (2014). Diagnosis of acromegaly. In K. Martin (Ed.), Uptodate. Retrieved from uptodate.com