Defining Cure:

Untreated or inadequately treated Acromegaly is associated with a 2½-5 times increase in mortality, reducing life expectancy somewhere between 5-10 years.

The cure of Acromegaly is achieved when all the deleterious effects of elevated GH levels abate through normalization of GH and IGF-1 levels with or without pituitary tumor shrinkage. Total reversal of all the clinical effects and co-morbid complications of excess GH may not be possible, but normalization of GH and IGF-1 help limit any further progression of disease. Co-morbid conditions may however progress despite normal GH/IGF-1 levels due to the nature of the particular problem.

The definition of cure in Acromegaly has become progressively more stringent over the years as medical therapy, surgical technology and sophistication of laboratory technology have improved.

The biochemical definition of cure is a GH nadir of <1µg/L during an OGTT and a normal IGF-1 level.