TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges in the diagnosis and management of acromegaly
T2 - a focus on comorbidities
AU - Abreu, Alin
AU - Tovar, Alejandro Pinzón
AU - Castellanos, Rafael
AU - Giraldo, Claudia Milena Gómez
AU - Valenzuela, Alex
AU - Pinedo, Alejandro Castellanos
AU - Guerrero, Doly Pantoja
AU - Barrera, Carlos Alfonso Builes
AU - Franco, Humberto Ignacio
AU - Ribeiro-Oliveira, Antônio
AU - Vilar, Lucio
AU - Jallad, Raquel S.
AU - Duarte, Felipe Gaia
AU - Gadelha, Mônica
AU - Boguszewski, Cesar Luiz
AU - Abucham, Julio
AU - Naves, Luciana A.
AU - Musolino, Nina Rosa C.
AU - de Faria, Maria Estela Justamante
AU - Rossato, Ciliana
AU - Bronstein, Marcello D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, The Author(s).
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare, insidious disease resulting from the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and is associated with a range of comorbidities. The extent of associated complications and mortality risk is related to length of exposure to the excess GH and IGF-1, thus early diagnosis and treatment is imperative. Unfortunately, acromegaly is often diagnosed late, when patients already have a wide range of comorbidities. The presence of comorbid conditions contributes significantly to patient morbidity/mortality and impaired quality of life. Methods: We conducted a retrospective literature review for information relating to the diagnosis of acromegaly, and its associated comorbidities using PubMed. The main aim of this review is to highlight the issues of comorbidities in acromegaly, and to reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Findings and conclusions: Successful management of acromegaly goes beyond treating the disease itself, since many patients are diagnosed late in disease evolution, they present with a range of comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It is important that patients are screened carefully at diagnosis (and thereafter), for common associated complications, and that biochemical control does not become the only treatment goal. Mortality and morbidities in acromegaly can be reduced successfully if patients are treated using a multimodal approach with comprehensive comorbidity management.
AB - Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare, insidious disease resulting from the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and is associated with a range of comorbidities. The extent of associated complications and mortality risk is related to length of exposure to the excess GH and IGF-1, thus early diagnosis and treatment is imperative. Unfortunately, acromegaly is often diagnosed late, when patients already have a wide range of comorbidities. The presence of comorbid conditions contributes significantly to patient morbidity/mortality and impaired quality of life. Methods: We conducted a retrospective literature review for information relating to the diagnosis of acromegaly, and its associated comorbidities using PubMed. The main aim of this review is to highlight the issues of comorbidities in acromegaly, and to reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Findings and conclusions: Successful management of acromegaly goes beyond treating the disease itself, since many patients are diagnosed late in disease evolution, they present with a range of comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It is important that patients are screened carefully at diagnosis (and thereafter), for common associated complications, and that biochemical control does not become the only treatment goal. Mortality and morbidities in acromegaly can be reduced successfully if patients are treated using a multimodal approach with comprehensive comorbidity management.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11102-016-0725-2
DO - 10.1007/s11102-016-0725-2
M3 - Review article
C2 - 27279011
AN - SCOPUS:84976320997
SN - 1386-341X
VL - 19
SP - 448
EP - 457
JO - Pituitary
JF - Pituitary
IS - 4
ER -