Growth hormone deficiency in treated acromegaly

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jan;26(1):11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2014.10.005. Epub 2014 Nov 27.

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) of the adult is characterized by reduced quality of life (QoL) and physical fitness, skeletal fragility, and increased weight and cardiovascular risk. Hypopituitarism may develop in patients after definitive treatment of acromegaly, but an exact prevalence of GHD in this population is still uncertain owing to limited awareness and the scarce and conflicting data available on this topic. Because acromegaly and GHD may yield adverse consequences on similar target systems, the final outcomes of some complications of acromegaly may be further affected by the occurrence of GHD. However, it is still largely unknown whether patients with post-acromegaly GHD may benefit from GH replacement. We review the diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of GHD in adult patients treated for acromegaly.

Keywords: IGF-1; acromegaly; growth hormone deficiency; mortality; neurosurgery; radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acromegaly / complications*
  • Acromegaly / epidemiology
  • Acromegaly / therapy*
  • Adult
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Human Growth Hormone / deficiency*
  • Human Growth Hormone / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism / diagnosis
  • Hypopituitarism / drug therapy
  • Hypopituitarism / epidemiology
  • Hypopituitarism / etiology*
  • Neurosurgery
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Human Growth Hormone