Via practica 7-8/2008

ACROMEGALY – DIAGNOSTICALLY UNDERESTIMATED DISEASE

Acromegaly with its disfigurements not only embitters the life of the patients, but due to its organ and metabolic complications increases morbidity and mortality. Clinical symptomatology develops inconspicuously and slowly. In majority of cases the diagnosis is delayed and the patients are shown to harbor bone dysmorphic changes and pituitary macroadenomas. At present there are defined exact criteria for hormonal control of the disease. Achievement of these goals results in mortality normalisation. Recently, in addition to neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery medical treatment is coming to the force. Success of therapy depends mainly on early diagnosis of the disease. The authors notify some initial and less known signs of acromegaly. Cognition of them enables early diagnostics and effective treatment.

Keywords: acromegaly, growth hormone, clinical picture, diagnostics, treatment.