Acromegaly is a disorder in which your body creates excessive amounts of growth hormone (GH). GH is a factor in regulating physical growth in the body and is mostly created by the pituitary gland. This hormone causes bones, cartilage, tissues, and internal organs to expand in size when it is overproduced in adulthood. Enlarged or bloated noses, ears, hands, and feet are all common alterations in appearance. Let’s understand what acromegaly is in detail!
How common is acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a rare condition. Acromegaly affects between 3 and 14 persons out of every 100,000, according to scientists.
Who has a higher chance of developing acromegaly?
Acromegaly is most commonly diagnosed in adults in their forties and fifties, but symptoms can arise at any age. Rather than acromegaly, too much growth hormone in children induces a condition known as gigantism NIH external link. Excess GH secretion begins before the end of adolescence, when children’s growth plates fuse or close, causing gigantism. Children who receive too much GH before their growth plates close become very tall.
What Are the Causes of Acromegaly?
GH is one of several hormones that control the body’s growth and development. Acromegaly is characterised by an excess of GH. It hastens the growth of bones and organs. The bones and organs of people with acromegaly are substantially larger than those of other people as a result of this growth stimulation.
The pituitary gland in the brain produces GH. More than 95 per cent of persons with acromegaly have a benign tumour affecting their pituitary, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). An adenoma is a type of tumour. Adenomas are a common type of tumour. Around 17% of the population is affected. These tumours don’t create extra GH in most people, but when they do, it can lead to acromegaly.
How is acromegaly diagnosed?
Acromegaly symptoms often appear slowly and over a long period. This makes diagnosis difficult.
Doctors who suspect acromegaly may perform the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
1.Blood tests: Growth hormone and IGF-I blood tests measure different forms of growth hormones in your blood. If these levels are abnormally high, your doctor may perform a glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis of acromegaly. After drinking a glucose solution, blood is drawn at various intervals for this test.
The growth hormone causes bones, cartilage, vital organs, and other tissues to expand in size when it is overproduced in adulthood.
2.Imaging tests: If blood tests reveal that you have acromegaly, your doctor will likely request an MRI scan, which can reveal the size and location of a tumour and aid in treatment planning.
How is acromegaly treated?
Acromegaly can be treated in a variety of ways. Before selecting which treatment(s) are best for you, your doctor will assess your symptoms and circumstances.
Surgery, medicine, and radiation therapy are the most common therapies for acromegaly:
- Surgery: In many cases, surgery significantly improves or eliminates acromegaly symptoms. The surgery’s specifics will be determined by the tumour’s size and location. The goal of surgery is to remove the entire tumour that is producing too much growth hormone. You might not need any additional treatment if surgeons can remove enough of the tumour. If only a portion of a tumour can be removed, you may need medication or radiation therapy to manage your symptoms and lower growth hormone production.
- Medication: Somatostatin analogues (Sandostatin®) are injection drugs that can assist control hormone levels. Medications act in a variety of ways to ease your symptoms and balance your body’s growth hormone levels.
Moving ahead, let’s discuss the answer to the question, “Is acromegaly an endocrine disorder?”
Is acromegaly a hormonal problem?
The pituitary gland, which is positioned at the base of the brain, releases growth hormone (GH) into the bloodstream. GH travels through the bloodstream to different regions of the body, where it exerts different effects. GH promotes growth and development in youngsters. Energy levels, muscle strength, bone health, and one’s sense of well-being are all affected by GH in adults. The condition of having too much GH in youngsters is known as gigantism, and it is highly unusual.
GH aids in the rise of children’s height (also known as linear growth), increases the muscular mass and reduces body fat. GH also aids in the regulation of the body’s metabolism, which is the process by which cells convert food into energy and produce other compounds that the body requires. Synthetic (made) GH can be used to treat growth hormone insufficiency (too little GH) and a variety of other health issues. Illegally, GH is sometimes used for non-medical purposes.
Acromegaly is not usually hereditary. Acromegaly is inherited very rarely as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or as a condition known as ‘familial solitary pituitary adenoma’ (MEN; see the article on MEN1 for further information). When a patient has acromegaly, the level of growth hormone in their blood does not decline, whereas it does in persons who do not have the illness. At the time of diagnosis, the endocrinologist (specialist doctor) will check that all of the pituitary gland’s other hormones are functioning normally.
So, is acromegaly an endocrine disorder? Yes, it is.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap to the question- What is Acromegaly? Acromegaly is a hormone disease in which the pituitary gland produces excessive amounts of growth hormone as a person grows older. Many of the consequences associated with too much growth hormone in the body can be avoided with a proper diagnosis of acromegaly and a well-supervised treatment regimen. Acromegaly can be treated early to prevent these consequences from occurring or worsening. Acromegaly and its complications might lead to death if left untreated.