Acromegaly Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Acromegaly?

Acromegaly is an extremely rare syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (GH) after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty.

Because of its pathogenesis and slow progression, it is hard to diagnose in the early stages and is frequently missed for years until changes in external features, especially of the face, become noticeable.

If not treated promptly, acromegaly can lead to serious illness and even become life-threatening.

Causes Of Acromegaly:

Acromegaly is caused by:

Pituitary adenoma
Non-pituitary tumors

Acromegaly can lead to the following complications:

Severe headache
Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Enlarged heart
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus (excess of GH leads to insulin resistance)
Heart failure
Kidney failure
Colorectal cancer
Compression of the optic chiasm leading to loss of vision in the outer visual fields

Symptoms Of Acromegaly:

Acromegaly is characterized by the following symptoms:

Soft tissue swelling visibly resulting in enlargement of the hands, feet, nose, lips and ears, and a general thickening of the skin
Soft tissue swelling of internal organs, notably the heart with attendant weakening of its muscularity, and the kidneys, also the vocal cords resulting in a characteristic thick, deep voice and slowing of speech
Generalized expansion of the skull at the fontanelle
Pronounced brow protrusion, often with ocular distension (frontal bossing)
Pronounced lower jaw protrusion (prognathism) with attendant macroglossia (enlargement of the tongue) and teeth spacing
Hypertrichosis, hyperpigmentation and hyperhidrosis may occur in these patients.
Acrochordon (skin tags)
Coarsened, enlarged facial features
Coarse, oily, thickened skin
Excessive sweating and body odor
Fatigue and muscle weakness
Severe snoring due to obstruction of the upper airway
Impaired vision
Enlarged tongue
Pain and limited joint mobility
Menstrual cycle irregularities in women
Erectile dysfunction in men
Enlarged liver, heart, kidneys, spleen and other organs
Increased chest size (barrel chest)