Acromegaly
What are the characteristics of acromegaly? Learn all about its causes, the most significant symptoms, and the best treatments to manage it.
Symptoms and Causes
Acromegaly is a rare disease caused by excessive production of growth hormone (GH), which is usually due to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. Because it is uncommon and its symptoms develop very slowly, it often takes years to diagnose.
Typically, acromegaly causes abnormal bone growth, especially in the face, hands, and feet. This endocrine disorder develops in adulthood since excessive GH secretion during childhood leads to gigantism, which also affects the lower limbs.
Current treatments can help control the effects of acromegaly and improve physical appearance, often restoring it almost to its original state. However, if left unmanaged, the disease can affect other parts of the body and lead to severe health complications.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of acromegaly develop gradually. As a result, they often go unnoticed and are not easily linked to other, less common signs, making diagnosis more difficult. The most significant symptoms include:
- Enlarged hands and feet.
- Changes in facial features due to the growth of the lower jaw, brow ridge, and nasal bones, as well as lip enlargement.
- Excessive sweating with odor.
- Widely spaced teeth.
- Heart enlargement.
- Muscle weakness.
In addition to the typical features of acromegaly, patients may experience other conditions caused by the pituitary tumor, such as headaches, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiac arrhythmias, or diabetes.
Causes
The primary cause of acromegaly is an excess of growth hormone, which is usually triggered by two types of tumors:
- A pituitary adenoma, which presses on surrounding tissues.
- A tumor in other parts of the body, such as the adrenal glands, lungs, or pancreas.
Risk Factors
Several factors increase the risk of developing acromegaly, including:
- Being between 30 and 50 years old.
- Having a family history of the disease.
Complications
If left untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health complications, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiomyopathy, osteoarthritis, diabetes, goiter, or vision problems.
Prevention
Acromegaly cannot be prevented. Once diagnosed, treatment helps alleviate symptoms and minimize the risk of complications.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing this rare disease is challenging since its symptoms can be mistaken for those of other conditions or the natural aging process. Carefully reviewing the patient's medical history and listening to their concerns are essential for suspecting acromegaly and ordering additional tests to confirm it. The most useful tests in this case include:
- Blood tests to measure GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels.
- MRI to examine the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, helping detect the underlying causes of dysfunction.
Treatment
There are several effective treatments for acromegaly, tailored to each individual's needs and characteristics. The most common options include:
- Surgery to remove the tumor: This is usually the best option when the adenoma is small and can be completely removed.
- Medications: Used in cases where the tumor cannot be entirely removed. These drugs help reduce GH production or block its effects.
- Radiation therapy: This may be used to treat residual tumor tissue that could not be removed or to lower hormone levels after surgery.
