Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that develops when your pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone during adulthood.
When you have too much growth hormone, your bones increase in size. In childhood, this leads to increased height and is called gigantism. But in adulthood, a change in height doesn’t occur. Instead, the increase in bone size is limited to the bones of your hands, feet and face, and is called acromegaly.
Because acromegaly is uncommon and the physical changes occur slowly over many years, the condition sometimes takes a long time to recognize. Untreated, high levels of growth hormone can affect other parts of the body, in addition to your bones. This can lead to serious — sometimes even life-threatening — health problems. But treatment can reduce your risk of complications and significantly improve your symptoms, including the enlargement of your features.
Causes
Acromegaly occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone (GH) over a long period of time.
The pituitary gland is a small gland at the base of your brain, behind the bridge of your nose. It produces GH and a number of other hormones. GH plays an important role in managing your physical growth.
When the pituitary gland releases GH into your bloodstream, it triggers your liver to produce a hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) — sometimes also called insulin-like growth factor-I, or IGF-I. IGF-1 is what causes your bones and other tissues to grow. Too much GH leads to too much IGF-1, which can cause acromegaly signs, symptoms and complications.
In adults, a tumor is the most common cause of too much GH production:
Pituitary tumors. Most acromegaly cases are caused by a noncancerous (benign) tumor (adenoma) of the pituitary gland. The tumor produces excessive amounts of growth hormone, causing many of the signs and symptoms of acromegaly. Some of the symptoms of acromegaly, such as headaches and impaired vision, are due to the tumor pressing on nearby brain tissues.
Nonpituitary tumors. In a few people with acromegaly, tumors in other parts of the body, such as the lungs or pancreas, cause the disorder. Sometimes, these tumors secrete GH. In other cases, the tumors produce a hormone called growth hormone-releasing hormone (GH-RH), which signals the pituitary gland to make more GH.
Symptoms
A common sign of acromegaly is enlarged hands and feet. For example, you may notice that you aren’t able to put on rings that used to fit, and that your shoe size has progressively increased.
Acromegaly may also cause gradual changes in your face’s shape, such as a protruding lower jaw and brow bone, an enlarged nose, thickened lips, and wider spacing between your teeth.
Because acromegaly tends to progress slowly, early signs may not be obvious for years. Sometimes, people notice the physical changes only by comparing old photos with newer ones.
Overall, acromegaly signs and symptoms tend to vary from one person to another, and may include any of the following:
Enlarged hands and feet
Enlarged facial features, including the facial bones, lips, nose and tongue
Coarse, oily, thickened skin
Excessive sweating and body odor
Small outgrowths of skin tissue (skin tags)
Fatigue and joint or muscle weakness
Pain and limited joint mobility
A deepened, husky voice due to enlarged vocal cords and sinuses
Severe snoring due to obstruction of the upper airway
Vision problems
Headaches, which may be persistent or severe
Menstrual cycle irregularities in women
Erectile dysfunction in men
Loss of interest in sex
Complications
If left untreated, acromegaly can lead to major health problems. Complications may include:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Heart problems, particularly enlargement of the heart (cardiomyopathy)
Osteoarthritis
Type 2 diabetes
Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)
Precancerous growths (polyps) on the lining of your colon
Sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Increased risk of cancerous tumors
Spinal cord compression or fractures
Vision changes or vision loss
Early treatment of acromegaly can prevent these complications from developing or becoming worse. Untreated, acromegaly and its complications can lead to premature death.
The list of some Acromegaly medicine:
