Better cure for gigantism

Acromegaly (gigantism) is a rare illness that affects 15 to 20 Norweg- ians a year. It is due to the overproduction of growth hormone in the pituitary gland, and affects most of the body’s tissues. About half of all patients can be cured by surgery. The remainder manages to keep their symptoms in check by taking medicine for the whole of their lives.

Now a study by researchers at NTNU and St. Olavs Hospital, in cooperation with Norway’s other university hospitals, shows that a combination of surgery and drugs gives the best result. “Patients who get regular injections in the 6 months before their operation are much healthier than patients who are operated on without any pre-surgery treatment”, says researcher Sven M. Carlsen at NTNU’s Faculty of Medicine.