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Usage Information

Acromegaly pathogenesis and treatment
Shlomo Melmed
Shlomo Melmed
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Science in Medicine

Acromegaly pathogenesis and treatment

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Abstract

Dysregulated growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion is usually caused by a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma and leads to acromegaly — a disorder of disproportionate skeletal, tissue, and organ growth. High GH and IGF1 levels lead to comorbidities including arthritis, facial changes, prognathism, and glucose intolerance. If the condition is untreated, enhanced mortality due to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and pulmonary dysfunction is associated with a 30% decrease in life span. This Review discusses acromegaly pathogenesis and management options. The latter include surgery, radiation, and use of novel medications. Somatostatin receptor (SSTR) ligands inhibit GH release, control tumor growth, and attenuate peripheral GH action, while GH receptor antagonists block GH action and effectively lower IGF1 levels. Novel peptides, including SSTR ligands, exhibiting polyreceptor subtype affinities and chimeric dopaminergic-somatostatinergic properties are currently in clinical trials. Effective control of GH and IGF1 hypersecretion and ablation or stabilization of the pituitary tumor mass lead to improved comorbidities and lowering of mortality rates for this hormonal disorder.

Authors

Shlomo Melmed

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Usage data is cumulative from May 2025 through May 2026.

Usage JCI PMC
Text version 7,371 1,797
PDF 601 302
Figure 945 0
Table 484 0
Supplemental data 280 6
Citation downloads 237 0
Totals 9,918 2,105
Total Views 12,023
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Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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