The pathogenesis of acromegaly. Clinical and immunocytochemical analysis in 75 patients.
A series of 75 patients with acromegaly and immunocytochemically characterized pituitary adenomas has been analyzed. Tumors secreting growth hormone (GH) only were found in 21% of cases. The remainder had tumors immunoreactive for more than one pituitary hormone: GH and prolactin in 31%; GH, prolactin, and glycoprotein in 40%; and GH and glycoprotein in 8%. Microadenomas were surgically treated in 17 patients with a success rate of 82%. Overall, normalization of basal GH secretion (to less than or equal to 5 ng/ml) was achieved in 54% of cases. The implications of these findings for the pathogenesis and neurosurgical management of acromegaly are discussed.
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism
D006023:Glycoproteins; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone