Medical management of acromegaly with bromocriptine. Effects of continuous treatment for over three years

Eighty-seven patients with active acromegaly were treated with bromocriptine for periods of up to 42 months. On treatment, 82 of these patients noted a rapid alleviation of one or more symptoms of their disease. In 67 patients, the mean growth hormone level of four values taken through the day fell by 14 mu/L or more, or became undetectable. Eighty patients have been treated for over 12 months and this suppression was maintained. Improvement in abnormal glucose tolerance occurred in 25 out of 29 diabetics and tolerance became normal in 19. Bromocriptine is of great value in cases in which surgery or radiotherapy has not been completely effective or as interim treatment until the full effect of other therapy has taken place. However, the long-term effect of high doses of bromocriptine is not yet known.