What is a potential side effect of treatment for acromegaly?

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A potential side effect of treatment for acromegaly is the formation of cholesterol gallstones. Acromegaly is often caused by excess growth hormone, usually resulting from a pituitary adenoma. Treatments may include surgery, radiotherapy, or medical management with somatostatin analogs or growth hormone receptor antagonists. These therapies can affect metabolism and liver function, potentially leading to changes in bile composition and stimulating conditions where gallstones can form, particularly cholesterol gallstones.

Managing hormone levels and the resultant metabolic changes is essential, as imbalances can affect the liver's ability to produce and regulate bile. When bile is supersaturated with cholesterol, coupled with other contributing factors like dietary changes or slowed gastrointestinal motility post-treatment, the risk of developing gallstones increases. Thus, monitoring for gallstones is an important consideration in patients undergoing treatment for acromegaly.

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