Cutaneous findings in patients with acromegaly

Acromegaly is a systemic syndrome caused by overproduction of growth hormone. The syndrome affects cutaneous, endocrine, cardiovascular, skeletal, and respiratory systems. Cutaneous manifestations of acromegaly are various, usually being the first presenting findings of the disease. Forty-nine patients with acromegaly, followed-up at a tertiary referral hospital, underwent dermatological examination. There were 27 (55.1%) female and 22 (44.9%) male patients. The age at onset of the disease was older in females than males (P=0.045). Most patients had acral enlargements, large triangular nose, coarse face, thickened lower lip, and prognathism. Fourteen (28.6%) patients had multiple cherry angiomas, five (10.2%) had varicose veins in lower limbs, and two (4.1%) had psoriasis. In conclusion, a wide spectrum of cutaneous symptoms and features may be associated with acromegaly. Detailed dermatological examination of patients with acromegaly should be an essential component of systemic evaluation. Future prospective studies investigating the relationships between changes in skin signs, hormone levels, and response to treatments may help understand details of skin involvement in acromegaly.