About Acromegaly | SOMAVERT® (pegvisomant for injection) | Safety Info

What is acromegaly?

Acromegaly (pronounced: ac-ro-MEG-a-lee) is a rare disease, usually caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumor, or growth, on the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland is a tiny organ in your brain. It makes many hormones, including growth hormone (GH).

If you have acromegaly, the tumor on your pituitary gland causes your levels of GH to rise.

High GH levels can lead to the production of too much insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which leads to signs and symptoms of acromegaly.

Hear from other patients with acromegaly

Why do IGF-I levels matter in acromegaly?

Elevated levels of IGF-I can:

  • Cause your organs and tissues to grow too much
  • Lead to the appearance of other signs and symptoms of acromegaly

After surgery or radiation, levels of GH may return to normal, but there are some people who may still produce too much GH.