Related Experiment Videos
An acromegalic patient with recurrent urolithiasis.
Endocrinologia Japonica
|December 1, 1985
Summary
Acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone (GH), can lead to elevated vitamin D levels and kidney stones. Treating the underlying cause improved these metabolic abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Acromegaly is characterized by excessive growth hormone (GH) production, leading to various systemic complications.
- Urolithiasis, or kidney stones, is a known complication, often linked to hypercalciuria.
Observation:
- A patient with acromegaly presented with abdominal pain and hematuria due to urolithiasis.
- Investigations revealed hypercalciuria and elevated serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) levels, ruling out hyperparathyroidism.
- Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were within normal limits.
Findings:
- Selective adenomectomy to treat the acromegaly normalized 1,25-(OH)2D levels and resolved hypercalciuria and urolithiasis.
- Pre-operative 1,25-(OH)2D levels were significantly elevated (55.0 and 73.0 pg/ml) compared to the normal range (27.2-53.8 pg/ml).
- Post-operative 1,25-(OH)2D levels decreased to 23.0 pg/ml.
Implications:
- Growth hormone (GH) may stimulate vitamin D activation in the kidneys in acromegaly patients.
- This increased vitamin D activation enhances intestinal calcium absorption and urinary calcium excretion.
- Targeting GH excess can effectively manage vitamin D-related metabolic disturbances and urolithiasis in acromegaly.