Athena Vale
Excess growth hormone, also known as human growth hormone (HGH) or somatotropin, can lead to muscle weakness through a variety of mechanisms. The pituitary gland normally produces growth hormone, but in cases of excess, tumours on the pituitary gland or other body parts can be the cause. This excess growth hormone can lead to a condition called acromegaly in adults, causing irreversible bone overgrowth and thickening, particularly in the face, hands, and feet. While acromegaly does not increase height in adults, it can affect bone shape, organ size, and other health factors, including muscle weakness. In children, excess growth hormone causes gigantism, resulting in extreme height. Both acromegaly and gigantism can lead to serious health complications, including muscle weakness, due to the impact of excess growth hormone on bones, muscles, connective tissue, and metabolism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Excess growth hormone in children | Gigantism |
| Excess growth hormone in adults | Acromegaly |
| Acromegaly characteristics | Larger hands, feet, ears, lips, nose, jaw, and forehead |
| Acromegaly health risks | Heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, colon polyps, organ failure, and reduced life expectancy |
| Gigantism health risks | Muscle weakness, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, enlarged heart, heart valve issues, metabolic complications, and Type 2 diabetes |
| Growth hormone abuse risks | No increase in muscle strength, potential muscle weakness, and unknown dangers of mixing with other substances |
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What You'll Learn
Gigantism in children
Gigantism is a rare condition that causes children to grow abnormally tall. It occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone, also known as somatotropin or human growth hormone (hGH). This excess of hGH accelerates the growth of muscle, bone, and connective tissue, resulting in increased height and girth. The condition manifests while the child's growth plates are still open, before the end of puberty.
The most common cause of gigantism is a benign tumour called an adenoma, which grows on the pituitary gland. This tumour causes the gland to produce far more hGH than the body needs. In rare cases, gigantism may be caused by genetic health issues, such as Sotos syndrome, Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome, or Weaver syndrome.
The symptoms of gigantism include a rapid increase in height compared to peers, disproportionately large hands and feet, and changes in facial features such as a prominent jaw and enlarged nose. Children with gigantism may also experience fatigue, weakness, joint pain, and delayed developmental milestones. They may also have an increased appetite, consuming more food than their peers.
Early diagnosis of gigantism is crucial to prevent serious health issues. If left untreated, gigantism can lead to complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and enlarged heart (cardiomegaly). Treatment options include surgery to remove or shrink the tumour, radiotherapy to slow its growth, and drug therapy to control hGH levels and shrink the tumour.
While gigantism can cause muscle weakness, it's important to note that excess hGH does not lead to increased muscle strength. In fact, long-term use of synthetic hGH can result in muscle weakness, including that of the heart. This is because any increase in muscle size is due to an increase in connective tissue, which does not contribute to muscle strength.
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Acromegaly in adults
Acromegaly is a rare, chronic endocrine disorder caused by the excessive production of growth hormone (GH) in adults. It is often the result of a non-cancerous tumour in or near the pituitary gland, which may secrete growth hormone or other hormones. The condition can also be caused by tumours in other organs, such as the lungs or pancreas, which stimulate the pituitary gland to produce growth hormone. Acromegaly affects numerous organs, bones, and tissues, leading to serious complications.
The most common symptoms of acromegaly include the overgrowth of bones in the face, hands, and feet, causing facial disfigurement, large hands and feet. Other symptoms include skin changes, such as oily skin, excessive sweating, thickening of the skin, skin tags, body odour, and increased body hair. Additionally, acromegaly can cause hormonal changes, including breast tissue enlargement or milk production, sexual dysfunction, and menstrual cycle irregularities. The condition can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, increased stroke risk, osteoporosis, obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, and chronic pain due to abnormal tissue swelling and enlargement.
The progression of acromegaly depends on the size and secretion activity of the tumour. The condition progresses faster and more aggressively in people who develop a pituitary tumour early in adult life. Acromegaly is typically diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50, with an average age of 44, and affects men and women equally. The diagnosis is confirmed by elevated GH and IGF-1 levels in the blood.
Treatment for acromegaly often requires a combination of surgical, radiation, and/or medication therapy. Successful treatment can lead to significant improvements in symptoms, and some symptoms may even resolve completely. However, acromegaly cannot be prevented, and early diagnosis is crucial to managing the condition effectively.
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Cardiomyopathy
Excess growth hormone can cause muscle weakness, including weakness of the heart, in the long term. This can lead to an enlarged heart, known as cardiomyopathy.
Gigantism, a condition caused by excess growth hormone in children and adolescents, can result in an enlarged heart or cardiomegaly. This is due to the excessive amount of growth hormone accelerating the growth of muscles, bones, and connective tissue. Acromegaly, a similar condition in adults, can also cause an enlarged heart.
The pituitary gland produces growth hormones, which influence height and help build bones and muscles. In acromegaly, a tumour in the pituitary gland causes excess growth hormone. This leads to irreversible overgrowth of bones, particularly those in the face, hands, and feet. The skin also becomes thick, coarse, and hairy.
Patients with acromegaly have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the leading cause of mortality in this group. The most frequent cardiovascular complications include heart failure, valvular disease, hypertension, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease. The excess of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can cause negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
GH treatment may improve cardiac parameters in adults with GH deficiency. However, the effects of GH on the heart are still being studied, and more research is needed to fully understand its impact.
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Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
IGF-1 is part of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, which consists of three ligands (insulin, IGF-1, and IGF-2), two tyrosine kinase receptors (insulin receptor and IGF-1R receptor), and six ligand-binding proteins. Together, they play a crucial role in cell proliferation, survival, and the regulation of cell growth, affecting almost every organ system in the body.
IGF-1 manages the effects of GH in the body, and together, they promote the normal growth of bones and tissues. GH levels in the blood fluctuate throughout the day, depending on diet and activity levels, while IGF-1 levels are more stable. Therefore, measuring IGF-1 levels in the blood is a reliable way to track GH in the body.
High levels of IGF-1 can be caused by hypothyroidism, liver disease, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Both high and low levels of IGF-1 increase mortality risk, with mid-range levels being associated with the lowest mortality.
In terms of muscle weakness, IGF-1 contributes to the maintenance of muscle strength and mass. However, in the context of excess growth hormone, the specific connection between IGF-1 levels and muscle weakness requires further exploration and clarification.
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Tumours
Excess growth hormone can cause muscle weakness, and in some cases, this is due to tumours.
The pituitary gland, a small, pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, produces growth hormone (GH). Acromegaly, a disorder caused by excess GH, is most commonly the result of a tumour in the pituitary gland, called a pituitary adenoma. This tumour causes the pituitary gland to release excess GH, which in turn signals the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is responsible for bone and body tissue growth.
In more than 9 out of 10 cases of acromegaly, the pituitary adenoma is the cause, but rarely, the tumour may be located elsewhere in the body. These tumours are almost always benign or non-cancerous. While the exact cause of these tumours is unknown, scientists believe genetic factors may play a role.
In children, excess GH causes gigantism, resulting in extreme height. This occurs when excess GH is produced before the growth plates in their bones fuse, usually by the end of puberty. Acromegaly, on the other hand, occurs in adults when the growth plates have already fused, and the excess GH does not lead to increased height. Instead, it affects bone shape, organ size, and other health factors.
The symptoms of acromegaly include enlarged hands, feet, ears, lips, nose, jaw, and forehead, thick coarse skin, high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of colon polyps which may turn cancerous. Acromegaly can also lead to muscle weakness, including that of the heart, known as cardiomyopathy.
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Frequently asked questions
Acromegaly is a rare but serious medical condition caused by excess levels of growth hormone, most commonly as a result of a tumour in the pituitary gland.
Acromegaly causes an irreversible overgrowth of bones, particularly those of the face, hands and feet. The skin becomes thick, coarse and hairy. Other side effects include high blood pressure, heart disease, colon polyps, organ failure and Type 2 diabetes.
Gigantism is a rare condition that occurs when a child or adolescent has high levels of growth hormone, causing them to grow very tall.
Excess growth hormone accelerates the growth of muscle, bones and connective tissue. This leads to an abnormally increased height, as well as several soft tissue changes. Complications include mobility issues due to muscle weakness, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, enlarged heart and heart valve issues.
Excess growth hormone leads to an overproduction of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which causes bones and body tissue to grow. While IGF-1 grows muscle, any increase in muscle size due to the use of synthetic growth hormone is actually the result of an increase in connective tissue, which does not contribute to muscle strength.
