What is acromegaly?

Acromegaly is the hormonal disorder in which pituitary gland (master gland) situated in base of the brain produces “growth hormone” in excess. Pituitary gland regulates the activities of many other endocrine glands such as adrenal, thyroid, ovaries.  People with acromegaly have enlarged extremities, enlarged hands and feet, exaggerated facial features and many other features. As acromegaly is caused by increased production of growth hormone, this overproduction is caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. When theses tumors expand they compress surrounding brain tissues such as optic nerve. This expansion can cause headache and visual impairments.

To diagnose acromegaly, it is necessary to conduct multiple tests. Main and the most accurate diagnosis should be done when growth hormone is measured under conditions where secretion is normally suppressed.

Etiology of acromegaly

Excessive growth hormone stimulation causes hepatic secretion of IGF 1, resulting in most of the clinical sign and symptoms of acromegaly. Due to gradual progression of this disease its clinical diagnosis is often delayed.

Sign and symptoms of acromegaly

There are following indications which denotes this condition:

• Pain or aching in the joints
• Enlarged hands and feet
• Head pain
• Hypertension
• Pain in back
• Generalized weakness or malaise
• excessive sweating
• Oily skin
• Thickness of skin
• Achrocchordons or skin tags
• Deformities in the mouth, tongue, and nose caused due to excessive enlargement
• Awkward voice
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnoea
• Menstrual irregularities with low levels of estrogen hormone which causes vaginal dryness, and flashes of heat
• Low or loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, decrease growth of hair on beard, atrophy of testes which results due to low levels of testosterone hormone
• Carpal tunnel syndrome that is compression of median nerve resulting in symptoms like numbness, weakness, and tingling in the wrist, thumb, index, or middle fingers
• Galactorrhea that is milk production in non-nursing women and hirsutism (excess growth of hair in women) due to increased levels of prolactin

Diagnosis of acromegaly

The diagnosis of acromegaly has been facilitated by IGF-I measurement. Elevated levels of IGF-I is almost pathognomonic for this condition. IGF-I is highly sensitive to even mild elevation of growth hormone secretion.

When acromegaly is suspected, serum IGF-I measurement should be performed as a screening test, followed by a oral glucose-tolerance test. Glucose normally suppresses growth hormone secretion. lack of suppression of glucose is the definitive diagnostic test in case of acromegaly.

The severity of sign and symptoms is poorly correlated with serum growth hormone levels; correlation with serum IGF-I levels may be better. IGF-I may be elevated and clinical disease present, even a mean growth hormone level of 5ng/ml. the main indication of acromegaly is id the absence of cessation of growth hormone secretion, which results in higher than normal interpose nadiers and lack of glucose-induced susceptibility of growth hormone to <1ng/ml.

Frequently patients with acromegaly have paradoxical growth hormone response to TRH or GnRH- findings that support the diagnosis of this condition but not entirely specific.

MRI or CT scan (pituitary imaging) frequently reveals a macroadenoma that may extend in any direction. Radiography may show the bony scull deformities, enlarged sinuses, and sella tuecica.

Homeopathic treatment of acromegaly

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat acromegaly but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat acromegaly that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints.  For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of acromegaly:

Thyreoidinum, pitu-gl, Baryta carb, Carcinosin and few more medicine on the basis of symptoms similarity