[Acromegaly: new principles for treatment].

Abstract

Acromegaly is a rare condition usually caused by a GH secreting pituitary tumor. Rigorous control of the disease is important in order to bring the mortality rate on level with that of the background population. Surgery is first choice, and it is sufficient in 50-60% of the patients. Treatment with a somatostatin analogue is second choice and normalises GH hypersecretion in 60% of the patients; tumor shrinkage occurs in 30%. A newly developed GH receptor antagonist, pegvisomant, seems to offer complete suppression of GH activity in most patients and also improves glucose tolerance. The disadvantages of pegvisomant include lack of suppression of tumor activity and a high cost.

• Authors: Jens Otto Lunde Jørgensen, Ulla Friis Feldt-Rasmussen, Marianne Andersen, Lars Østergård Kristensen, Peter Laurberg, Jørgen Weeke
• Journal: Ugeskrift for laeger (Ugeskr Laeger) Vol. 169 Issue 10 Pg. 904-6 (Mar 05 2007) ISSN: 1603-6824 [Electronic] Denmark
• Vernacular Title: Akromegali: nye behandlingsprincipper.
• PMID: 17359733 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agonists
• Human Growth Hormone
• Somatostatin
• pegvisomant

Topics

• Acromegaly (drug therapy, radiotherapy, surgery, therapy)
• Dopamine Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Human Growth Hormone (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Somatostatin (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)