Acromegaly

Douglas Ball, M.D.
Acromegaly is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins Diabetes Guide.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Official website of the Johns Hopkins Antibiotic (ABX), HIV, Diabetes, and Psychiatry Guides, powered by Unbound Medicine. Johns Hopkins Guide App for iOS, iPhone, iPad, and Android included. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

DEFINITION

  • A clinical syndrome resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH).
  • GH excess prior to closure of the epiphyseal plates results in gigantism; after epiphyseal plate closure, the result is acromegaly.
  • Somatic and metabolic effects of chronic GH hypersecretion are predominantly mediated by high levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
  • Acromegaly is an uncommon secondary cause of diabetes.
  • Excess GH: 1) stimulates gluconeogenesis and lipolysis, causing hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acid levels; 2) leads to both hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance, with compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Conversely, IGF-1 increases insulin sensitivity. However, in acromegaly, increased IGF-1 levels are unable to overcome the insulin-resistant state caused by GH excess.

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

DEFINITION

  • A clinical syndrome resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH).
  • GH excess prior to closure of the epiphyseal plates results in gigantism; after epiphyseal plate closure, the result is acromegaly.
  • Somatic and metabolic effects of chronic GH hypersecretion are predominantly mediated by high levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
  • Acromegaly is an uncommon secondary cause of diabetes.
  • Excess GH: 1) stimulates gluconeogenesis and lipolysis, causing hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acid levels; 2) leads to both hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance, with compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Conversely, IGF-1 increases insulin sensitivity. However, in acromegaly, increased IGF-1 levels are unable to overcome the insulin-resistant state caused by GH excess.

There's more to see -- the rest of this entry is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: June 2, 2019