Patient-focussed outcomes in acromegaly

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) is severely impaired in acromegaly due to the physical and psychological consequences of the disease. Pharmacological and surgical treatments, when available, can improve QoL and life expectancy. Case description: A 34-year-old male with uncontrolled acromegaly due to a large and invasive macroadenoma, which could not be resected by transsphenoidal surgery. Over 9 years, he had limited access to pharmacological interventions and persisted with clinically and biochemically active disease, with severe co-morbidities and a poor QoL, which eventually lead to a premature sudden death. Conclusion: This case highlights the impact that active acromegaly has when treatment resources are limited. We review the factors contributing to poor QoL in this disease, with special reference to the Latin American scenario. © The Author(s) 2013.