Articular involvement in acromegaly is one of the most frequent clinical complications and may be present as the earliest symptom in a significant proportion of patients. The involvement of other organs may be of clinical importance and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from acromegaly. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of the diseases can prevent the development of irreversible complications of the disease and improve the quality of life in patients suffering from the disease.
Definition
Acromegaly is a chronic and slowly developing endocrinopathy caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and consequently of insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) due to GH-secreting pituitary tumor. Other causes, such as increased growth hormone–releasing hormone production from hypothalamic tumors, ectopic growth hormone–releasing hormone production, and ectopic GH secretion from nonendocrine tumors, are rare.
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