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Skin manifestations in acromegaly
Anat Ben-Shlomo1, Shlomo Melmed
1Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Clinics in Dermatology
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Excess growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) cause skin changes in acromegaly, including puffiness and oily skin. Early diagnosis and treatment of these cutaneous manifestations are crucial for managing this disorder.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Dermatology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Acromegaly, a disorder caused by excess growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), significantly impacts skin health.
- Cutaneous manifestations are common and varied, reflecting the widespread effects of hormonal imbalance on skin cells and structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the spectrum of cutaneous changes associated with acromegaly.
- To highlight the diagnostic significance of these skin alterations.
- To discuss the impact of managing GH and IGF-1 levels on dermatological symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical features of acromegaly focusing on skin manifestations.
- Analysis of the pathophysiology linking GH and IGF-1 to specific dermatological changes.
- Correlation of cutaneous findings with disease diagnosis and management.
Main Results:
- Prominent skin changes include puffiness (due to glycosaminoglycan accumulation and edema), particularly on the face, hands, and feet.
- Other common features are oily skin, large pores, hypertrichosis, excessive sweating, pigmented skin tags, acanthosis nigricans, and psoriasis.
- Altered skin capillaries lead to increased vasoconstriction.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous changes are key indicators for the early diagnosis and treatment of acromegaly.
- Effective management of GH and IGF-1 over-secretion can alleviate most skin symptoms, although complete regression is not always achieved.
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