Growth hormone (GH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) are important regulators of bone modeling and remodeling, fundamental to maintenance of normal skeletal integrity. In acromegaly, a disease characterized by longstanding exposure to excess GH and IGF-1, these hormones induce marked skeletal changes. Most dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) studies report that bone mineral density (BMD) is normal in acromegaly. Despite this, however, there is mounting evidence that bone health is adversely affected in patients with both active and successfully treated acromegaly.
