Heredity and Symptoms in Acromegaly

Abstract

The author has performed clinical and follow-up studies of 80 acromegalic patients treated by trans-anthro-sphenoidal removal of the pituitary adenoma. Heredity for acromegaly or gigantism was recorded in 3.8% of the patients and other hereditary factors in 13.8%. Head trauma, meningitis or encephalitis was recorded in the case histories in 18.8%. The predominant symptoms were sweating, paraesthesiae, heActache and joint pain. Acromegaly was in 37.6% associated with goitre, parathyroid adenoma, gastric or duodenal ulcer, parotid tumours or submandibular swelling. The fecundity among the married patients was good, 34.4% having three or more children. Successful pregnancies occurred after the transanthro-sphenoidal removal of the adenoma.