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Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Medical therapy in acromegaly
Mark Sherlock1, Conor Woods, Michael C Sheppard
1Centre for Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Nature Reviews. Endocrinology
|March 31, 2011
Summary
Acromegaly, a rare disease of excess growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), can be managed with therapies to normalize levels. Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, and various medical therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Rare Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acromegaly results from excessive growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) secretion.
- This condition leads to significant morbidity and premature mortality.
- Effective management requires normalization of GH and IGF-1 levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current and future pharmacological therapies for acromegaly.
- To discuss treatment strategies aimed at reducing GH and IGF-1 levels.
- To explore therapeutic options for managing acromegaly symptoms and pituitary adenoma effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on acromegaly treatments.
- Analysis of pharmacological options including dopamine agonists, somatostatin receptor ligands, and pegvisomant.
- Discussion of medical therapy as primary and secondary treatment.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic goals include decreasing GH and IGF-1 levels to <2.5 μg/l and normalizing IGF-1.
- Available treatments encompass surgery, radiotherapy, and medical therapies.
- Medical therapy is increasingly utilized as a primary treatment option.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacological interventions are crucial for managing acromegaly.
- Current medical therapies offer effective options for persistent or recurrent disease.
- Future research will likely focus on advancing medical treatments for acromegaly.
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