Question

Acromegaly is caused by hypersecretion of _______ in the adult
(a) ACTH
(b) GH
(c) MSH
(d) TSH

Answer 1

Hint: Acromegaly is the disorder that results in a typical enlargement of hands and feet and stature in general. This occurs due to the excessive secretion of a specific hormone which helps in the increase in the height and secreted in the Anterior pituitary.

Complete answer:
Acromegaly is a disorder that results from excess secretion of Growth hormone from the anterior pituitary. Initially, there is a typical enlargement of the hands and feet but an enlargement of the forehead, jaws, and nose may also be seen. Other symptoms include joint pain, vision problems, etc. In most cases, the increased secretion of the Growth Hormone is due to a benign tumour known as the pituitary adenoma which is not an inherited condition. The tumour cells release an excess of Growth Hormone which acts on the growth plates which is the main cause for the enlarged stature.
Additional Information:
Other symptoms of GH hypersecretion include pronounced brow protrusion, pronounced lower jaw protrusion, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. Acromegaly is diagnosed by measuring the growth hormone after a person has drunk a glucose solution or in other sense, measuring the insulin-like growth factor-I in the blood of a person. The treatment options for acromegaly include surgical removal of the tumour, medications, and radiation therapy. Without any treatment, the life expectancy of the individual is reduced by 10 years.
So, the answer is, “GH”

Note:
- When an excessive growth hormone secretion is seen during childhood, it is termed as Gigantism instead of Acromegaly and it is not reversible though symptoms may be controlled. - When there is hyposecretion of growth hormone there is growth retardation. If seen in childhood it is known as pituitary dwarfism and results in a generalized short stature, whereas in adults GH deficiency syndrome is seen.