Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder, due to excess secretion of growth hormone (GH) and occurs in middle-aged adults. This hormone is normally secreted by the 'Pituitary', a gland situated deep within the brain. Whenever there is increased secretion of GH, the clinical condition is called acromegaly (meaning enlarged extremities).
A similar excess occurring if occurring in childhood causes the condition 'gigantism'.
Acromegaly is uncommon (3-4 per 100000 people). Physical changes occur so gradually that it is easy to miss the disease altogether in the initial stages.
The most common cause of acromegaly is a tumor. These tumors can be of two types:
These tumors are almost always non-cancerous and benign, called 'adenomas'
This tumor secrets an excess amount of growth hormone which causes most of the symptoms.
Some symptoms of impaired vision and headaches are caused due to the tumor growing in size and pressing on nearby brain tissues.
Tumors present elsewhere in the body (pancreas, lungs, and adrenal glands) begin to secrete growth hormone resulting in excess hormone circulation.
The progress of the disease being very slow, it is easy to miss acromegaly. Even with friends and family members, the condition can go unnoticed as changes are very subtle.
When there is enough reason to suspect acromegaly, the laboratory investigations required are:
GH levels in the blood are measured before and after having a fixed amount of glucose orally. If the GH levels after having glucose fail to fall, the diagnosis of acromegaly is made.
Elevated levels of these hormones in spite of fasting overnight, is indicative of acromegaly.
CT and MRI scans can pinpoint the locations of pituitary as well as non-pituitary tumors.
Acromegaly is either a cause of or associated along with the following conditions outlined below:
More than one form of treatment is usually required. Both medications and surgery are usually indicated, the aim is to reduce the total amount of GH in circulation.
The conventional medicines have three objectives:
Transsphenoidal surgery to extract the pituitary tumors.
Applied in cases where there are residual tumor cells even after appropriate surgical interventions.
Homeopathy system does not have significant treatment for Acromegaly. However, homeopathy can successfully treat some of the end results of the disease process.
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