Acromegaly is a rare disease resulting from the combination of clinical signs and symptoms caused by growth hormone hypersecretion. This hypersecretion is caused by a pituitary tumor1. The term acromegaly was popularized by Pierre Marie in 1886, and reflects the fact that a key feature of the disease is enlargement of the face, hands, and feet2. The presence of an enlarged pituitary or pituitary adenoma in acromegaly was noted by several investigators, but it wasn't until 1892 that Massalongo proposed a causal relationship between the two. The demonstration by Cushing in 1909 that acromegaly improves after partial hypophysectomy confirmed the pituitary source of the disease. Cushing correctly postulated that overproduction of a growth-promoting substance by the pituitary was the underlying cause of many of the clinical signs and symptoms of acromegaly2.
Changing Features in Acromegaly Over Time
It is important to note that the changes illustrated above can occur very slowly over time and may take years to notice.
This section of the site provides information about acromegaly, including:
Important Safety Information
Carcinoid Syndrome:
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for the long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors in patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (62%), gastrointestinal disorders (14% to 38%), and injection-site pain (20% to 50%). Hypoglycemia (4%), hyperglycemia (27%), sinus bradycardia (19%), conduction abnormalities (9%), and arrhythmias (3%) have been reported.
The controlled clinical trials that support the marketing clearance for Sandostatin® LAR Depot did not include determination of effect on tumor size or rate of growth. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is not indicated for tumor shrinkage.
Acromegaly
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term maintenance therapy in acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option. The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce GH and IGF-1 levels to normal.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (52%), gastrointestinal disorders (7% to 36%), and injection-site pain (2% to 11%). Hypoglycemia (2%), hyperglycemia (15%), and hypothyroidism (2%) have been reported. While not measured in acromegalic patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR Depot, ECG changes have been reported in patients receiving immediate release Sandostatin® Injection; the degree to which these abnormalities are related to octreotide acetate is not clear, as many acromegalics have cardiovascular disease. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
