Growth-hormone and prolactin excess.
The treatment of acromegaly and hyperprolactinaemia has been improved by the availability of effective and well-tolerated slow-release somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonists with long-lasting activity, such as cabergoline. The use of these drugs has extended the possibility of treatment to patients who would have responded poorly to the previously available compounds, such as octreotide or bromocriptine, and to those who were intolerant to pharmacotherapy. Moreover, the improvement in the management of acromegaly has enabled the reversal, at least partly, of cardiomyopathy and sleep apnoea, two important risk factors for morbidity and mortality in these patients.
Colao
A
A
Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. rpivone@tin.it
Lombardi
G
G
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077465:Cabergoline; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013004:Somatostatin; D000077465:Cabergoline