Karpf D B, Braunstein G D
Compr Ther. 1986 Jan;12(1):22-30.
Acromegaly is an insidious disorder of somatic growth and metabolic derangements that results from the chronic hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) in the adult. While its precise incidence in this country remains undocumented, a recent epidemiologic study of a stable population of 3.1 million in England suggested an annual incidence of approximately 0.3 cases per 100,000, with a prevalence of diagnosed cases approaching 4 per 100,000. In the majority of cases the diagnosis, once considered, is not difficult, although in recent years the spectrum of possible etiologies has been considerably broadened. As with most diseases, the problems of diagnosis arise with the more subtle or less classical examples of the syndrome. This review will briefly discuss the possible etiologies and clinical presentation of acromegaly, and then focus on the diagnosis and management of this potentially devastating disease.
肢端肥大症是一种隐匿性的躯体生长和代谢紊乱疾病，由成人期生长激素（GH）长期分泌过多引起。尽管我国其确切发病率尚无记录，但最近一项针对英国310万稳定人口的流行病学研究表明，年发病率约为每10万人0.3例，确诊病例的患病率接近每10万人4例。在大多数情况下，一旦考虑到，诊断并不困难，尽管近年来可能的病因范围已大大拓宽。与大多数疾病一样诊断问题出现在该综合征较隐匿或不太典型的病例中。本综述将简要讨论肢端肥大症的可能病因和临床表现，然后重点关注这种潜在破坏性疾病的诊断和管理。
