What causes acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly occurs when the body produces too much of any of the hormones that control growth. These include growth hormone (GH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Overproduction of these hormones is caused by certain types of tumors. In over 95% of cases, the tumor is an adenoma of the pituitary gland.
Related QuestionsWhat is acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly is a serious condition that occurs when the body produces too much of the hormones that control growth. This causes abnormal enlargement of bone, cartilage, muscle, organs, and other tissues. This abnormal growth can cause serious disease and even premature death.
Related QuestionsSandostatin.com Global for Healthcare Professionals - Freque...Acromegaly is a rare chronic disorder caused by the presence of a pituitary adenoma, which results in the hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and subsequent elevation of circulating and locally produced insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (IGF-1). The clinical presentation of acromegaly is characterized by skeletal overgrowth deformities, particularly of the hands, feet and face, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and respiratory obstruction.Related Questions
How common is acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly is a rare disease. In the United States, about 1 in every 20,000 people has the disease. It can affect people of any age, but is most often diagnosed in adults aged 40-45 years.
Related QuestionsWhat are other symptoms of acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Many of the symptoms result from the enlargement of tissues caused by excess growth hormone and IGF-1 in the blood. Arthritis, back pain, and curvature of the spine (kyphosis) - Due to enlargement of bones and cartilage in joints Change in bite or chewing, or spreading out of teeth – Due to enlargement of jaw and other facial bones
Related QuestionsWhat are the complications of acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly can cause enlargement of body organs such as the heart, thyroid gland, liver, and kidneys. Untreated, acromegaly is linked to early heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, diabetes, and colonic polyps, a precursor of colon cancer. People with acromegaly have almost twice the chance of dying prematurely as the general population. Successful treatment, however, will restore near normal health in most individuals.
Related QuestionsHow is acromegaly diagnosed?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly is not an easy diagnosis, and it is usually missed by primary care doctors. Some of the signs and symptoms of acromegaly are very distinctive. Others are subtle and can be missed or misinterpreted. They are not always recognized as acromegaly because they develop so slowly. Once the diagnosis is suspected, you are usually referred to a specialist in hormonal disorders (endocrinologist). Blood tests are used to help confirm the diagnosis.
Related QuestionsCan acromegaly be cured?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly can be put into remission. This means that the disease is stopped and many of the signs and symptoms reversed. But, acromegaly can be a lifelong disease. Drug and/or radiation therapy typically goes on for several years. Even after successful therapy, you will need to see your health care provider regularly to have your growth hormone and IGF-1 levels checked.
Related QuestionsHow can acromegaly be prevented?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...There is no known way to prevent acromegaly. Early detection is the best hope of preventing severe symptoms and complications.
Related QuestionsWhat are the Causes?
Psoriasis Help Organisation - Online ForumCy, JUDGE DREDD, Madtoscratch, Lianne, lutece, SueB, akesingland, riaY, bryndavell, Groovygirl, david_8, SJ, Terrimayormaynot, jjoblogs1, anglichanin, Tom_B, bubble, TrishR, squoink, GATTACA, willy, Roger, margurita_simpson, snowy, beacon, LyndsayA, stripe77, Snow Surfer, lighthearted The material has been extracted from Psoriasis at your fingertips by Dr Tim Mitchell & Rebecca Penzer (Class Publishing).
Related QuestionsQuality Health | Skin Cancer, NonmelanomaNonmelanoma skin cancer is usually caused by too much sun. Using tanning beds or sunlamps too much can also cause it.Related Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsCopyright © 2002-2005 Health Information Publications. The information provided on this Web site has been developed exclusively by and for Health Information Publications and ehealthMD and may not be copied without written permission. The information provided is for general information only and is not intended to replace the advice of your health-care provider. This is original material developed by Health Information Publications, Copyright © 1990-2005Related Questions
Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin TypesA: The term "ichthyosis" refers to a group of disorders caused by a genetic defect which may have been spontaneous (due to a mutation of a gene) or passed on through family inheritance. The skin's natural shedding process is slowed or inhibited and, in some forms of ichthyosis, the production of skin cells is too rapid.Related Questions
Vulvodynia: Vulvar Pain Clinics: FAQ's Vestibulitis, Vestibu...The precise cause of Vulvodynia is unknown. Some of the theories on causality include: a viral, fungal or bacterial infection; an allergic response to an environmental irritant; an autoimmune response to the body’s own chemistry; trauma; or the result of pelvic floor muscle instability. There is no clear connection of Vulvodynia to sexually transmitted disease as many of the young women affected are not yet sexually active.Related Questions
Vanishing Twin Syndrome - Answers to Frequently Asked Questi...Just as there is no clear attributable cause for most miscarriages, there aren't always reasons or explanations for the loss of a fetus in a multiple pregnancy. In some cases, the fetus is inviable due to chromosomal or placental abnormalities. Some studies suggest that because these abnormalities are more common in older women, Vanishing Twin Syndrome occurs more often in mothers of advanced age.Related Questions
Psoriasis Help Organisation - Online ForumriaY, ivano, SueB, Lianne, Annie G, margurita_simpson, david_8, sandy1, FelicityHelen, SPOTTY MUNCHKIN, Cy, elgrande, aimee26, GyZim, Aginoth, stewart_h, veronique, jjoblogs1, lkm, akesingland, Scofz, mattellie, Diletta The material has been extracted from Psoriasis at your fingertips by Dr Tim Mitchell & Rebecca Penzer (Class Publishing). Permission has been granted by Class Publishing to reproduce these extracts from their bookRelated Questions
Is acromegaly a fatal disease?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Acromegaly itself is usually not fatal. The complications of acromegaly, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can be life threatening. Successful treatment of acromegaly, however, will usually restore normal health.
Related QuestionsWhat treatments are available for acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...There are several treatment options in acromegaly. Whichever treatments are used, the goal is to relieve and reverse the symptoms of the disease. This is done in 2 ways: by normalizing production of growth hormone and IGF-1 and by reducing the effects of the pituitary tumor on the surrounding tissues. A secondary goal is to avoid damaging normal pituitary tissue. Which treatments are used for a specific individual depend on the cause of the disease.
Related QuestionsIs surgery a cure for acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Surgery alone does bring about remission for some people, but not everyone. “Remission” in this case means to return levels of growth hormone and IGF-1 to normal. Remission is different than cure in that the disease can come back from remission. If it is successful, this operation quickly relieves symptoms caused by the tumor pressing on adjacent tissue. Remission rates are about 80-85% for small adenomas (microadenomas) and 50-65% for large adenomas (macroadenomas).
Related QuestionsWhat drugs are used to treat acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Growth hormone receptor blockers are the newest category of drugs used for acromegaly. These drugs work by blocking the places on cells where growth hormone “docks.” If the excess growth hormone in the blood can’t dock on a cell, it can’t cause abnormal growth of the cell. The only drug in this category that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for acromegaly is pegvisomant (Somavert).
Related QuestionsWhat does it mean to live with acromegaly?
Acromegaly FAQs Medical Reference Medical Encyclopedia Infor...Treatments for acromegaly do work in a significant proportion of people. Unfortunately, however, the disease is rarely caught early enough to prevent permanent damage or even premature death. Bone changes of acromegaly are permanent. Many of the soft-tissue changes, such as swelling, enlarged tongue, thickened skin, acne, carpal tunnel syndrome, and goiter, and sexual problems, are reversible with treatment.
Related QuestionsWhat medications are available for treatment of Acromegaly?
Pituitary Society - Public Site - Information about the pitu...Somatostatin analogs: octreotide (Sandostatin), octreotide LAR (Sandostatin LAR), lanreotide or lanreotide (Autogel; not currently available in the U.S.).
Related QuestionsWhat are the goals of treatment for acromegaly?
Sandostatin.com Global for Healthcare Professionals - Freque...The goals of treatment in acromegaly include normalization of GH and IGF-1 levels, reduction in tumour size, prevention of tumour recurrence, and alleviation of significant comorbid features, particularly cardiovascular, pulmonary and metastatic derrangements.4,5 There has been considerable debate on the appropriate level of GH to be achieved when treating acromegaly.
Related QuestionsWhat is first-line therapy for acromegaly?
Sandostatin.com Global for Healthcare Professionals - Freque...Transsphenoidal surgical excision of the pituitary adenoma is usually first-line therapy in acromegaly. The procedure is associated with normalization of GH levels in approximately 90% of patients with well-defined microadenomas.8-11 Surgical remission rates are lower in patients with macroadenomas because of the large, fibrous, and frequently invasive nature of these tumours, which makes complete resection unlikely.
Related QuestionsWhen is it appropriate to treat acromegaly with Sandostatin®?
Sandostatin.com Global for Healthcare Professionals - Freque...Sandostatin® is typically used as second-line treatment in patients whose GH levels remain elevated after surgery, or in those patients for whom surgical resection is not an option. 5 Based on the results of independent investigations, it has been proposed that it should also be considered as first-line treatment in patients with acromegaly caused by a macroadenoma, in whom the chances of surgical cure are reduced.
Related QuestionsAcne causes and what causes acne?
Acne Frequently Asked Questions FAQ.Almost all teenagers get acne at one time or another. You haven't done anything to cause your acne. It's not your fault if you have it. Pimples are caused when oil ducts in the skin get plugged up and then burst, causing redness and swelling. Although there are many myths about acne, the following are the three main factors that cause it. When you begin puberty, certain hormones, called androgens, increase in both males and females.
Related QuestionsAcne Causes - What Causes Breakouts?
Several factors contribute to the development of acne. The primary problem is that the abnormal flaking of cells inside the hair follicle leads to the formation of a plug. The plug can enlarge and even rupture the hair follicle. A ruptured hair follicle spills its contents of oil and debris into the skin where it leads to swelling and causes redness (inflammation).
Related QuestionsWhat causes part distortion?
Eastern Alloys, Inc.Parts may distort as they solidify and cool in the die, or during ejection from the die. These problems are solvable but usually require discussions between the part designer, the tool designer and the die-casting engineer since they involve increasing draft angles etc. However, part distortion is quite often caused by mishandling during press trimming, polishing etc. or when the parts are clamped in jigs for machining, plating or painting.
Related QuestionsWhat causes anorexia?
Anorexia: FAQThe disorder is a complex combination of physical, psychological, and social factors not clearly understood by the medical and psychological communities. The causes of anorexia have been linked to genetics, personality traits, environments, stressors, and biochemical functions.
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