Effects of Therapies in the Acromegaly Disease: Acral Morpho-functional Study

Acromegaly is a rare chronic disease due to excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), caused in over 98% of cases by GH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Prolonged exposure to GH/IGF-I excess is the cause of increased mortality and morbidity in these patients. Arthropathy occurs in about 75% of acromegalic patients. Any joint may be affected, with the development of osteoarthritis, arthralgia, and an increase in fracture risk.

The aims of the present project are to evaluate the dimensions of hands and feet with the 3D scanner method and to perform a quantitative analysis of movement through Gait Analysis technique in de novo patients with acromegaly (group # 1) and in patients with different disease status (group #2).