Pituitary gigantism. The possibility of medical treatment

Abstract

Pituitary gigantism is a disease caused by an excess of growth hormone and characterized by tallness with a proportional increase in all parts of the body. Almost always in patients with pituitary gigantism found pituitary adenoma, producing growth hormone (somatotropin). In rare cases, there is excess production of somatoliberin by the hypothalamus or tumors outside the brain. Somatotropinoma can be sporadic or caused by a disease with genetic defects: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, McCuneAlbright syndrome, Carney complex, X-LAG syndrome, AIP-mutation. All associated with genetic defects somatotropinoma more invasive and less amenable to drug therapy than sporadic. Clinical recommendations (protocols) for the treatment of pituitary gigantism in children currently does not exist. The issue of preliminary medical treatment to improve the outcome of neurosurgical interventions has not been resolved, and further methodologically based studies are needed to clarify this point. The article presents a clinical case of pituitarygigantism caused by pituitary adenoma, which produces growth hormone in a 12-year-old boy. The diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical and anamnestic, laboratory data and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and laboratory manifestations of hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus, visual field disorders, neurological symptoms, as well as signs of genetic diseases in the patient were not noted. Treatment with bromocriptin gave a partial positive effect: the size of the formation in the pituitary gland decreased, but the target hormonal parameters were not achieved. A trial administration of octreotide subcutaneously was carried out, as a result of which the level of growth hormone decreased to the target values, no side effects of the drug were noted, which led to the choice of a conservative method as the first line of therapy. Thedecision to treat with bromocryptine in combination with octreotide extended action. The dynamics of tumor sizeonthebackgroundofconservative therapy will answer the question of the need for subsequent neurosurgical treatment.