Hormonal disorders
Pituitary and growth hormone: acromegaly, gigantism, deficiency
Short answer
Growth hormone (GH, somatotropic hormone) is produced in the pituitary gland, which sits in a hollow in the brain called the “Turkish saddle.” It plays an important role in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Excess: causes acromegaly in adults and gigantism in children.
- Deficiency: causes delayed growth in children and metabolic disorders in adults — for example, increased abdominal fat.
In both cases, the earlier the intervention, the more effective the treatment.
Schematic illustration
General information
- Acromegaly. It is disproportionate growth of the hands, feet, nose, jaw, forehead and internal organs, caused by excess secretion of growth hormone. It is a serious disease; seeing a doctor and starting treatment in time are important.
- Symptoms: larger ring and shoe size after the growth period is over, enlargement of the jaw and tongue, coarsening of facial features, headaches, frequent sweating, excess body fat.
- Accompanying problems: high blood sugar (diabetes), cholesterol disorders, shortness of breath, choking, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure.
- Gigantism. When there is too much growth hormone in childhood, the child grows much taller than other children of the same age.
- Diagnosis. Complaints and medical history, laboratory tests (GH, IGF-1, challenge tests) and imaging of the pituitary (MRI, CT).
- Treatment:
- In excess, the main method is surgery. If the operation is not effective, radiotherapy and drug treatment are prescribed.
- In deficiency, growth hormone is replaced: the hormone is given as an injection at a set time of day.
- The role of the pituitary. In the doctor's words: “The pituitary is our body's small but powerful leader. By secreting hormones, it regulates everything from growth to energy balance… Despite its small size, its influence is great — it is our body's control center.”
Q&A
I suspect acromegaly. What should I do?
If your ring and shoe size have increased, your jaw and facial features have changed, or you have headaches and sweating, get examined by an endocrinologist. The diagnosis is confirmed with GH and IGF-1 tests and a pituitary MRI.