IGF-1 is an insulin-like protein produced majorly in the liver. It is a single chain of 70 amino acids and three disulfide bridges with a molecular weight of approximately eight kilodaltons. IGF-1 level peaks around puberty, with low levels seen at extreme ages.

Synthetic IGF-1 analog is used in the treatment of growth disorders, for example, dwarfism.

IGF-1 almost always exists in the bound form. It is bound by the IGF-binding proteins (IGF-BPs), and the most abundant of them is IGFBP-3.

Nutrition also plays some role, as high protein intake tends to increase growth hormone and IGF-1 levels.

Acromegaly is usually a slow-progressing disorder, with onset usually in the third or fourth decade of life. The presenting complaints include the following:

• joint pain due to hypertrophic arthropathy
• wrist pain and numbness from carpal tunnel syndrome
• snoring and sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, due to macroglossia
• headaches and visual disturbances (bitemporal hemianopia) and pressure effects of pituitary adenoma on adjoining structures in the brain, for example, compression of the optic chiasma
• erectile dysfunction or low sex drive
• abnormal menses in women
• sweaty palms and soles (hyperhidrosis)

Signs upon physical examination include the following:

General Examination

• coarse facial features, prominent forehead, prominent brow, and prognathism (mandibular enlargement)
• prominent forehead crease and nasolabial folds
• large tongue and widely spaced dentition
• thick eyelids, large nose, and lower lip

Visual field examination

• bitemporal hemianopsia

Neck

• feel for a thyroid mass
• observe for raised JVP (in acromegalic cardiomyopathy)

Integuments

• skin is thick and rough
• skin tags
• oily skin
• abnormal or excess hair distribution, e.g., hirsutism(in women), hypertrichosis
• hyperpigmentation
• acanthosis nigricans especially in the axilla

Breast Exam

• galactorrhea
• dry atrophied skin

Cardiovascular

• problems of  acromegalic cardiomyopathy
• elevated blood pressure
• cardiac murmur (a pansystolic murmur may indicate mitral valve regurgitation)

Chest

• bibasal crepitation may indicate a congestive heart failure in a patient with acromegalic cardiomyopathy

Limbs

• acral enlargement: large hands (with stubby fingers) and feet
• proximal myopathy
• genu varum
• rolling gait

Laboratory investigations

GH suppression test:

• administer 100 g glucose to the patient orally
• one hour later measure serum growth hormone levels
• result: normal GH levels which are less than five ng/ml excludes acromegaly, while elevated levels of greater than ten ng/ml are suggestive of acromegaly

IGF-1 Levels

• a direct dose-response relationship with growth hormone levels
• levels measured for age and sex
• useful for diagnosis and treatment monitoring
• pregnancy can cause elevated IGF-1 levels

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Levels

• elevated levels usually > 300ng/mL is suggestive of extra-pituitary sources

Prolactin

• Elevated prolactin levels due to pituitary stalk compression by an adenoma or by a co-prolactin producing pituitary adenoma.

Imaging Studies

Brain Scan

• Magnetic resonance imaging scan is more sensitive in visualizing the sella turcica and adjacent structures, but a computed tomogram scan can be done if this is not available

X-rays

Skull x-ray: thickened calvaria, enlarged sella, long and thick mandibles, exaggerated ridges, dilated sinuses

Chest x-ray: barrel rib cage with long ribs

Hand x-ray: cortical thickening, ungal tufting, wide distal phalangeal bases, osteophytes, and soft tissue hypertrophy

Treatment Guidelines

• Removal of the pituitary gland should be the primary treatment in most patients
• An imaging study should be done after 12-16 weeks post-surgery to determine if there is any residual tumor left
• Follow up required to ensure the patient does not have signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism
• For patients with residual disease, medical therapy is offered

Surgical Treatment

• Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery:  A minimally invasive surgery using an endoscope through a small incision in the nose or at the upper lip to remove the pituitary adenoma will promptly relieve the pressure symptoms as well as lower elevated growth hormone (GH) levels. Recovery time is shorter compared to traditional transsphenoidal surgery.
• Transnasal Transsphenoidal Microscopic Surgery:  This is a traditional pituitary surgery that utilizes direct visualization of the tumor using a microscope. Recent retrospective studies showed gross total resection and a resolution of the IGF-1 with the endonasal approach which is comparable to transnasal transsphenoidal microscopic surgery.

Medical Therapy: Either as an adjunct to surgery or when surgery is not desirable.[8][9][10]

• Somatostatin analogs (octreotide, Lanreotide): These act on the somatostatin receptor to bring about inhibition of growth hormone secretion. It is usually administered as once-monthly intramuscular injections. It also can be used to shrink large pituitary adenomas before surgery.
• Dopamine receptor agonists (cabergoline, bromocriptine): These act on D2 receptors and are not as effective as the Somatostatin analogs. They are often used as adjuncts. Cabergoline is more potent than bromocriptine in lowering GH levels.
• GH- Receptor antagonist (Pegvisomant): This novel drug blocks growth hormone at the receptors, lowering IGF-1 levels while GH levels remain unaffected.

Radiotherapy

• Conventional radiotherapy: Often administered as an adjunct to surgery to either prevent relapse or when surgery is not able to bring about the acceptable lowering of GH levels. It is associated with the risk of irradiating adjacent brain tissues.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery: This is precision radiotherapy, directing high dose radiation to the tumor, and minimizing risk to nearby healthy brain tissues.

• Carney complex
• McCune Albright syndrome
• Pseudoacromegaly

• Because of the rarity of the condition, the exact statistics on mortality are unknown. However, acromegaly is associated with high mortality rates, chiefly due to malignancies, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.
• The effects of IGF-1 results in an enlarged heart, increased muscle mass and kidney size, hypertrophy of the joints, thickened skin, macroglossia, nerve entrapment syndromes, cerebral aneurysms, and hyperhidrosis.
• Individuals with acromegaly have 2-3 times the mortality rate compared to the general population.

• Diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia
• Airway narrowing, dyspnea, stridor and sleep apnea
• Hypertension, acromegalic heart, left ventricular hypertrophy
• Urolithiasis, hypercalciuria
• Muscle weakness, radiculopathies, nerve root compression, spinal stenosis, and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Increased risk of cancer, breast and prostate cancer

1. Long term monitoring is vital because the risk of hypopituitarism is high after surgery
2. GH levels post-surgery should be less than 1.0 ng/ml
3. Cardiac evaluation is necessary as patients may develop cardiomyopathy, mitral regurgitation, hypertension, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease
4. Perform colonoscopy screening to rule out colon cancer
5. Assess lung function, joints, and presence of sleep apnea

Minoxidil use has been associated with a condition characterized by facial features of acromegaly, but with normal growth hormone and IGF-1 blood levels. This condition is known as pseudoacromegaly.

Acromegaly is not a common disorder in North America, but when it presents, it is associated with very high morbidity and mortality rates. Because the presentation of acromegaly is systemic, an interprofessional team approach is necessary. There is no cure for acromegaly and the current treatments only manage the symptoms. 

In particular, a cardiologist, oncologist, neurologist, and a pulmonologist should be involved as the disorder is associated with malignancies, adverse cardiac, CNS and pulmonary events.

The nurse practitioner should ensure that the patients are not showing signs of hypopituitarism after treatment and during followup appointments and report to the clinician as concerns arise. Levels of GH and IGF need to be monitored for life. Because of the risk of cancer, these patients should be referred to the appropriate specialist on a timely basis. Patients need to be educated about the importance of follow up because the morbidity from cardiac and respiratory complications are very high. Because of joint dysfunction, early physical therapy is recommended. Many of these individuals are not gainfully employed and thus social work should be involved in helping to manage their financial status. Due to the challenges of managing medical therapy, a pharmacist should be involved in assisting in drug reconciliation and evaluating for toxicity. Any concerns should be reported to the clinical team. [Level V]

The mortality rates of patients with acromegaly are 3 times the general population, with most dying from respiratory and cardiac complications. These patients also develop several types of tumors including prostatic hypertrophy, uterine myomas, and skin tags. The overall outcome depends on whether the cause of acromegaly can be treated. even after surgical removal of a pituitary tumor, some patients may need treatment as a result of residual disease. The quality of life in these patients is poor.[11][12][13] Thus, it is also important not to subject these patients to unnecessary procedures, when medical treatment will suffice. The goal is not to harm the patient.