title: Pregnancy and acromegaly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acromegaly is a rare disorder in which, due to the high incidence of secondary hypogonadism, pregnancies are relatively rare. However, some women with acromegaly do get pregnant, which brings along questions about medication, complications and follow-up. This review tries to address these issues and provide the reader with practical information.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes published data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acromegaly is a disorder that is characterized by changes in growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin concentrations and actions. All these hormones are important in pregnancy as well. In principle, the fetal-placental collaboration between mother and child more-or-less takes over the control over GH and IGF-1, not only in normal physiology but also to a certain extend in acromegaly. When medication for the high GH levels or actions is continued during pregnancy, both dopamine agonists, somatostatin analogs and GH receptor antagonists have been used and the available data suggest that there are no adverse consequences on mother or fetus to date. However, it is strongly advised to stop any medical intervention during pregnancy until more data are available on the safety of these compounds. Also, medical treatment is not needed as tumor size and disease activity are not reported to escape.
authors: Rotterdam Pituitary Centre, Erasmus University MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Ammar
authors: A
authors: Muhammad
authors: Rotterdam Pituitary Centre, Erasmus University MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Sebastian J
authors: SJ
authors: Neggers
authors: Rotterdam Pituitary Centre, Erasmus University MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.vanderlelij@erasmusmc.nl.|Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Erasmus University MC, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 AC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.vanderlelij@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Aart J
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-0126
authors: AJ
authors: van der Lely
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone
keywords: Acromegaly; Complications; Pregnancy; Review; Treatment