Important Acromegaly Words

Acromegaly (ac-ro-MEG-a-lee)
A disease caused by too much growth hormone in the body. (See next entry.)

Growth Hormone (growth HORE-mone)
Also called “GH.” Growth hormone is made by the pituitary gland. It influences your health in many ways. The body needs some GH, but too much causes acromegaly.

Hormone (HORE-mone)
A substance that is made by one part of the body but affects another part of the body. Hormones usually travel in the bloodstream.

Pituitary gland (pit-TU-it-tary gland)
A small organ at the base of the brain. One of its functions is to make growth hormone.

Placebo (Pla-SE-bow)
An inactive substance used in controlled experiments testing the effectiveness and
safety of another medicine.

IGF-I (I-G-F-wun)
A hormone that the body makes in response to growth hormone. IGF-I causes growth, along with other effects. The body needs some IGF-I, but too much causes acromegaly.