Does acromegaly occur in adults?

Does acromegaly occur in adults?

Does acromegaly occur in adults?

Acromegaly itself is a disease that is uncommon among other conditions in adults. It is an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal enlargement of the body and internal organs due to excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, leading to physiological dysfunction. Excess growth hormone primarily causes overgrowth of bones, soft tissues, and internal organs. During puberty, this typically manifests as gigantism, whereas in adults it presents as acromegaly.

Acromegaly results from persistent overproduction of growth hormone, causing an endocrine metabolic disease. The main cause is a pituitary growth hormone-secreting tumor. Acromegaly tends to develop later in life, and its clinical symptoms are closely related to gender, age at onset, tumor size, and hormone secretion levels. Treatment options for acromegaly include surgery, medication, and radiation therapy. Surgical treatments include transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma and transcranial resection of pituitary adenoma. Radiation therapies include conventional methods, gamma knife radiosurgery, and X-knife radiosurgery. Medications include dopamine agonists and somatostatin analogs.

Currently, there is no specific method to prevent acromegaly; early detection and prompt treatment are crucial. Moreover, acromegaly has a certain genetic predisposition. When one parent has acromegaly, the likelihood of their offspring developing the condition is higher than in children whose parents do not have the disease. Additionally, patients with acromegaly who also suffer from diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases should pay attention to their diet. A light diet with low oil and salt intake, along with balanced nutrition, is recommended. We hope this article has been helpful to you. Wishing you a happy and healthy life.