Acromegaly is a chronic metabolic disease caused by the presence of too much growth hormone. When this happens, your OS will increase in size, including those in your hands, feet and face. Acromegaly primarily affects middle-aged adults. The overproduction of growth hormone is almost always caused by a pituitary tumor (benign) carriers (adenomas). This causes abnormal enlargement of bones, the cartilage, muscles, organs and other tissues.
Other symptoms of acromegaly include skin thick, coarse, oily; skin tags; enlarged lips, nose and tongue; deepening of the voice due to sinus expanded and the vocal cords. due to upper airway obstruction; snoring excessive sweating and the smell of the skin; fatigue and weakness. headache. a visual impairment; abnormalities of the menstrual cycle and breast sometimes discharge in women; and impotence in men. More serious consequences on the health of acromegaly are diabetes, high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Patients with acromegaly are also at increased risk of polyps of the colon which can develop into cancer. More commonly, acromegaly affects middle-aged adults and can cause premature death and serious illnesses. Because of its insidious onset and slow progression, the disease is difficult to diagnose in early stages and is often missed for many years.
Causes of acromegaly
The common Causes of acromegaly:
Acromegaly is caused by a prolonged GH overproduction by the pituitary gland.
In 90% of patients in acromegaly, overproduction of GH is caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland called an adenoma.
In some patients, acromegaly is caused by tumors of the pancreas, lung, and adrenal glands.
Symptoms of acromegaly
Some symptoms of acromegaly:
Arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diabetes mellitus.
High blood pressure.
Macroglossia [extended language].
Enlargement of the hands.
Eyebrows and protrusion of lower jaw.
Enlargement of the feet.
Congestive heart failure.
Treatment of acromegaly
Radiation therapy was used both as a primary treatment combined with surgery or drugs. It is usually reserved for patients who have remnants of the tumour even after surgery. Radiotherapy is given in doses split four to six weeks. This treatment reduces the levels of GH by about 50% more than 2 to 5 years, but it causes a gradual loss of production of other pituitary hormones. Other rare complications to radiotherapy are vision loss and brain injury.
Analogues of somatostatin and dopamine and GH receptor antagonists are the pillars of medical treatment and are typically used after the failure of the primary surgery for inducing complete remission.
Treatment may include removal of the tumor, radiation therapy and a blockade of the growth hormone drug injection.
Tumors which co-secrete prolactin have a better response rate for dopamine agonists. The response to these agents is often detected by a trial of the drug in appropriate patients.
The objective of treatment is to restore the pituitary gland to normal function, producing normal levels of growth hormone.
Microsurgery to remove the pituitary tumor causing this condition corrects the abnormal growth hormone secretion in most patients. This surgery are not available for patients in isolated geographic locations, this trip a more greater metropolitan area may be necessary for the treatment.
Juliet Cohen writes health articles for diseases and disorders. She also wrote articles on the advice of beauty of women.
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