Review of current and emerging treatment options in acromegaly

Abstract

In almost every patient, acromegaly is caused by a growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma. Clinical features are the result of excessive growth hormone secretion and the consecutive excess in insulin-like growth factor I levels. This results in somatic overgrowth and metabolic disturbances with a higher morbidity and mortality than in the general population. With optimal disease management, mortality can be reduced to that seen in the general population. The current treatment of acromegaly is based on a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and medical therapy. This review provides an overview of the current and upcoming therapies with a focus on medical therapy.