Joint involvement in patients with acromegaly: potential markers for early diagnosis

Abstract

Acromegaly is a rare neuroendocrine disease caused by excessive production of growth hormone (GH), which acts as a trigger for cartilage tissue destruction leading to joint damage.Patients with acromegaly, especially in the active stage, often complain of joint pain in various locations. Joint pain can be one of the first symptoms of the disease, the intensity of which worsens without proper treatment. Increased production of GH leads to configuration changes in the joints, which in turn trigger destructive processes typical of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Despite successful treatment of acromegaly, joint-related issues can persist and significantly worsen the quality of life for patients. In this regard, the search for potential markers of early joint involvement in acromegaly is relevant for use in predicting the severity of arthropathy progression and monitoring this cohort of patients.This review provides a general overview of the effects of growth hormone on cartilage tissue, the characteristics of musculoskeletal pathology in patients with acromegaly and possible markers associated with early joint damage.