A Rare Case of Acromegaly and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

Abstract

Objective: Acromegaly is a classic endocrine disorder caused by a growth hormone (GH)–secreting pituitary adenoma in an overwhelming majority of patients. The diagnosis may be delayed by several years due to the slow growing and insidious nature of the disease. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited disorder characterized by multiple renal cysts and various other systemic manifestations. The purpose of this article is to report a rare case of acromegaly with coexistent ADPKD. Methods: We report a case of 42-year-old female with acromegaly and ADPKD along with a brief review of literature. Results: The patient was referred to us for evaluation of progressive acral enlargement and coarsening of facial features. Endocrine evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of acromegaly due to an underlying GH–secreting pituitary macroadenoma. She was also found to have ADPKD. We discuss the clinical features and management of the patient. Conclusion: The association of pituitary adenomas and ADPKD is very rare and interesting. All affected individuals with pituitary adenomas and ADPKD in the literature are women. Furthermore, all reported pituitary adenomas in these individuals (including ours) are functional GH–secreting ones. These findings argue against a mere chance association between the two diseases.