Advances in the Treatment of Acromegaly
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas account for 20% of the functional pituitary tumors. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and cardiomyopathy are more prevalent in patients with acromegaly than in the general population. People wi1h acromegaly have mortality rates that are 2 to 3 times higher than in the general population. Although surgical resection of GH secreting pituitary adenomas is still considered by many to be the treatment of choice, it is now clear that surgery fails to cure a significant number of patients, particularly patients with macro adenomas, which respresent the majority of GH secreting pituitary tumors. Medical therapy has gained a more improtant role in the management of patients with acromegaly as the limitations of pituitary surgery and radiation have become apparent. This article focuses on a developments in the treatment options for acromegaly.
Growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas account for 20% of the functional pituitary tumors. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and cardiomyopathy are more prevalent in patients with acromegaly than in the general population. People wi1h acromegaly have mortality rates that are 2 to 3 times higher than in the general population. Although surgical resection of GH secreting pituitary adenomas is still considered by many to be the treatment of choice, it is now clear that surgery fails to cure a significant number of patients, particularly patients with macro adenomas, which respresent the majority of GH secreting pituitary tumors. Medical therapy has gained a more improtant role in the management of patients with acromegaly as the limitations of pituitary surgery and radiation have become apparent. This article focuses on a developments in the treatment options for acromegaly.