What are the complications of acromegaly?

Acromegaly can cause enlargement of body organs such as the heart, thyroid gland, liver, and kidneys. Untreated, acromegaly is linked to early heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, diabetes, and colonic polyps, a precursor of colon cancer.

People with acromegaly have almost twice the chance of dying prematurely as the general population. Successful treatment, however, will restore near normal health in most individuals.

Acromegaly that affects the heart or blood pressure or causes diabetes may have the following symptoms. These do not occur in everyone with acromegaly.

• Irritability
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  
• Fainting
  
  
• Weakness
  
  
• Increased thirst or urination
  
  
• Shortness of breath
  
  
• Chest pain
  
  
• Palpitations or rapid heart beat
  
  
• Poor exercise tolerance