Acromegaly Symptoms
A balanced hormone plays a substantial role in maintaining good health. There are various ailments related to hormonal fluctuations. Though acromegaly is not a common hormonal illness around the world, there is no harm to be aware of acromegaly causes. It is also essential to detect acromegaly symptoms for timely remedies. Let us begin with acromegaly definition.
What is Acromegaly?
Acromegaly begins with an unusual growth of hands, feet, and face. You would not have difficulty in identifying acromegaly symptoms. Though it may occur in older children, acromegaly is a condition, which occurs mostly in adults when their growth plates have closed. Acromegaly is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormones, known as pituitary glands.
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Image of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain
The Pituitary gland is a tiny, pea-sized gland located at the edge of the bony structure of the brain. It occupies the place near your optic nerves. Since it produces vital hormones for the body, it is also referred to as ‘Master Gland’.
Acromegaly Symptoms
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Image of deformed bones of the hand as a result of acromegaly
Acromegaly symptoms are visible and can be easily recognized. When you realize that your ring does not fit in your finger because the shape of your hand has enlarged, you may want to consult a doctor as this could be the first of acromegaly symptoms. Another acromegaly symptom could be visible when you begin to feel that you need a bigger shoe size. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror, if you see that your jawline is protruding more than before. A combination of all these acromegaly symptoms may be dropping hints for progressive acromegaly disease. Acromegaly symptoms may differ from person to person. However, if you can relate to nine out of ten symptoms, you may be suffering from acromegaly.
Over-size of jaws, nose, hands, legs, and so forth
Increased skin tags or outgrowth of skin
Fatigue and weakness in the muscles
Sinuses
Enlarged internal organs,
Larger tongue,
Pain in joints
Impaired vision
Rough or thickened skin,
Headache
Excess perspiration and body odor
Hair growth on the face in female
Snoring while sleeping
Change in voice
Irregular menstrual cycle
Dysfunction of erection in men
Acromegaly Causes
Now that you know what is acromegaly let us find out acromegaly causes. Acromegaly is caused by surplus production of growth hormones by pituitary glands. The excess secretion of growth hormones into your bloodstream activates the liver to manufacture insulin-like growth factors. Though the growth plates in adults pause, these excessive growth factors trigger further enlargement of soft tissues and bones. Hence, the resultant is giant-like growth in adults. There are two reasons behind the acromegaly disorder.
Pituitary Tumours - Acromegaly is caused by a tumour of pituitary glands, which is noncancerous. However, removal of this tumour would help in curing people with acromegaly disorder. Since the tumours are located at the base of the brain, it puts pressure on the optic nerves, which leads to impaired vision and headaches.
Non-Pituitary Tumours – In other cases, acromegaly is caused by tumours in other internal organs, which includes lungs, pancreas, etc. The tumours in other parts of the body trigger enlargement of internal organs. Due to the overgrowth of the internal organs, you may feel discomfort. With enlarged lungs, you may feel breathless. Overgrowth of the heart may lead to cardiovascular disease. People with acromegaly disorder should also be watchful of pre-cancerous growths on the lining of the colon. Early detection can prevent complications.
Fun Facts About Acromegaly
Do you love reading books written by Ronald Dahl? Acromegaly could remind you of the character of a giant from the children’s novel ‘The Big Friendly Giant’ written by Ronald Dahl.
If you think, you will gain the right height if you suffer from acromegaly, then you are wrong. Though children may grow tall, adults will not. On the contrary, they will suffer from bone deformity.
The movie, ‘Honey, I blew up the kids!’ could remind you of gigantism, but not acromegaly.
Complicated acromegaly could make you blind.
The mastermind behind acromegaly is the master gland, also known as pituitary glands.
You will find only a handful of acromegaly patients around the world since it is a rare disease.
FAQs on Acromegaly
1. What is acromegaly and what is its primary cause?
Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder that develops when the pituitary gland produces an excessive amount of Growth Hormone (GH) during adulthood. The primary cause is typically a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the pituitary gland, known as a pituitary adenoma. This tumour leads to the overproduction of GH, causing abnormal growth in bones and soft tissues.
2. What are the most common symptoms and physical changes associated with acromegaly?
The symptoms of acromegaly develop gradually. The most characteristic signs are physical changes, which include:
- Enlargement of hands and feet.
- Changes in facial features, such as a protruding lower jaw, an enlarged brow, a wider nose, and thickened lips.
- Coarsened, oily skin and excessive sweating.
- A deeper, husky voice due to enlarged vocal cords and sinuses.
- Joint aches and limited joint mobility.
3. What is the key difference between acromegaly and gigantism?
The primary difference between acromegaly and gigantism is the age of onset. Both are caused by excess Growth Hormone (GH). Gigantism occurs in children and adolescents whose bone growth plates (epiphyseal plates) have not yet closed, leading to a dramatic increase in height. In contrast, acromegaly occurs in adults after these growth plates have fused, so they do not grow taller. Instead, the excess GH causes their bones to widen and soft tissues to enlarge, particularly in the skull, hands, and feet.
4. How is acromegaly typically diagnosed by doctors?
Diagnosing acromegaly involves a multi-step process. Doctors usually start with blood tests to measure the levels of Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I), which is a reliable indicator of GH production. If these levels are high, an oral glucose tolerance test may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. To identify the cause, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of the brain is conducted to check for a pituitary tumour.
5. Why does excess Growth Hormone cause increased height in children but only bone thickening in adults?
This difference is due to the state of the epiphyseal plates, which are areas of growing tissue at the ends of long bones. In children, these plates are 'open' and active, allowing bones to grow in length. Excess GH supercharges this process, leading to gigantism. In adults, these plates have fused and 'closed,' meaning linear bone growth is no longer possible. Therefore, when exposed to excess GH, the bones can only grow in thickness and density, resulting in the characteristic features of acromegaly.
6. Beyond the visible physical changes, what are the serious long-term health complications of untreated acromegaly?
If left untreated, the consistently high levels of Growth Hormone can lead to several serious health problems. These complications extend beyond physical appearance and can significantly impact life expectancy. Key risks include:
- Cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and an enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy).
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus due to the counter-regulatory effects of GH on insulin.
- Severe arthritis and joint damage.
- Sleep apnea, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
- An increased risk of developing colon polyps, which can become cancerous.
7. What are the main treatment strategies for managing acromegaly?
Treatment for acromegaly aims to normalise Growth Hormone levels, relieve pressure from the pituitary tumour, and manage symptoms. The main strategies are:
- Surgical Removal: The most common treatment is a procedure called transsphenoidal surgery to remove the pituitary tumour.
- Medication: If surgery is not possible or does not fully normalise GH levels, medications are used to either reduce GH production or block its action on the body.
- Radiation Therapy: This is often used as a third option to slowly shrink the tumour over several years, especially for patients who do not respond to surgery or medication.
8. How exactly does a pituitary adenoma disrupt the body's normal hormonal balance to cause acromegaly?
A pituitary adenoma disrupts the body's endocrine system by acting outside the normal regulatory feedback loop. In a healthy person, the hypothalamus controls the pituitary's release of GH. However, an adenoma is composed of pituitary cells that grow and secrete GH autonomously. This tumour does not respond to signals from the body to stop production, leading to a continuous, excessive release of GH into the bloodstream. This chronic oversupply of the hormone overwhelms the body, causing the sustained overgrowth of tissue that defines acromegaly.
