Co-Occurrence of Acromegaly and Hematological Disorders: A Myth or Common Pathogenic Mechanism

Abstract

Background: Acromegaly is not one disease but an association of clinical, biochemical and radiological features. Altered blood counts are often observed in acromegaly patients. Acromegaly patients presenting with a hematological malignancy are rare. To date, there are several cases that have reported the co-occurrence of these diseases. Summary: The coexistence of the two diseases can be a mere coincidence or may have a common pathogenic mechanism. The rarity of these conditions and the small number of patients makes it difficult to determine the real role of elevated growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in the occurrence of hematological malignancies. Patients with growth hormone (GH) replacement due to GH-deficient acromegaly are at a high risk of developing hematological disorders. Conclusion: In this review, we aim to provide evidence for the correlation between the two disorders.