Summary
Summary Acromegaly Nursing Care Plan & Management
- Course
- Institution
It gives you proper details for making nursing assignment of the given topic and helpful for making Nursing care plans
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
dharinimistry1
Content preview
Acromegaly Nursing Care Plan &Management
Definition
● Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, and disabling disorder of body growth and endocrine
dysfunction in adults (after closure of the epiphyses) that is caused by excessive
levels of growth hormone (GH). It occurs in approximately 40 persons per million. In
adults, it is almost always due to a growth hormone–secreting pituitary adenoma.
The excess production of GH causes enlargement of tissues and an altered
production of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and gonadotropins. Left
untreated, acromegaly causes gross physical deformities, crippling neuromuscular
alterations, major organ dysfunctions, and decreased visual acuity. Arthritis or
carpal tunnel syndrome may also develop. Acromegaly increases an individual’s risk
for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and gallstones. The resultant cardiac disease
reduces life expectancy.
, Causes
● The overproduction of GH is a result of hyperpituitarism. More than 90% of patients
have a pituitary adenoma. The etiology of adenomas is unknown. Hyperpituitarism
can also occur with lung, gastric, breast, and ovarian cancers and may have a
genetic cause.
Genetic Considerations
● While most cases of acromegaly are not inherited, mutations in the GNAS1 gene
can cause GH secreting pituitary adenomas (somatotropin mas). These can be
transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern. Familial acromegaly may also be a
feature of multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I), an autosomal dominant
disorder that includes peptic ulcer disease and pituitary, parathyroid, and pancreas
endocrine abnormalities.
Gender, Ethnic/Racial, and Life Span Considerations
● Diagnosis of acromegaly usually occurs after the age of 40 in men and 45 in
women, and occurs more frequently in women than in men. Ethnicity and race have
no known effects on the risk for acromegaly.
Risk Factors
● Some rare cases of acromegaly are hereditary.
● The average age of diagnosis is 40-45 years old.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller dharinimistry1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
82871 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now