When treating acromegaly, your healthcare professional is most concerned with controlling the disease to preserve your overall health. To keep you healthy, your treatment should address the goals of treating acromegaly.
Successful treatment aims to:
- Normalize growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels
- Control tumor mass and/or shrink tumors without harming normal pituitary function
- Relieve the signs and symptoms
- Restore your life expectancy to that of the general population
The two main causes of the health problems and symptoms associated with acromegaly are hypersecretion of GH, with subsequent hypersecretion of IGF-1, and pituitary tumor enlargement. Surgery and medications that control GH and IGF-1 hypersecretion and tumor mass can reverse some of these health problems. Control of GH and IGF-1 hypersecretion also appears to reverse the risk of premature mortality.
Monitoring the Progress of Acromegaly Treatment
Your progress will be monitored carefully regardless of which treatment you undergo. Of course, treatments may not always result in a complete reduction of GH or IGF-1 to within "normal" ranges. Please talk to your healthcare professional about your test results and what they mean for you. Since the signs and symptoms of acromegaly can affect both physical appearance and general health, their alleviation will help improve your overall well-being. Your healthcare professional will work with you to determine the best way to manage this important aspect of the disease. Control of the pituitary tumor, normalization of GH, and IGF-1 levels, and control of symptoms help prevent further complications and lead the way toward living a healthy life.
