Overview
Acromegaly is a rare but important endocrine disorder caused by long-term excess secretion of growth hormone (GH), usually from a pituitary somatotroph adenoma, leading to elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I). The disease develops slowly, so its signs are often subtle at first and diagnosis is frequently delayed for 6 to 10 years. During that time, patients may experience progressive changes in appearance, joint pain, sleep problems, metabolic abnormalities, and reduced quality of life.
Early recognition matters because acromegaly is associated with higher risks of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiomyopathy, osteoarthritis, and increased mortality if left untreated. The good news is that more accurate hormone testing, improved imaging, and emerging artificial intelligence tools are making earlier diagnosis more realistic than before.
