Degenerative arthropathy occurs prematurely, particularly in the spine and other weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. The joints enlarge due to synovial overgrowth and cartilaginous thickening. Myopathy is frequent and, paradoxically, these patients are weak despite their muscular appearance.
Acromegalic patients may also have cardiomegaly related either to coronary artery disease, the incidence of which is increased in acromegaly, or to hypertension which occurs in thirty-five per cent of acromegalic patients. In the absence of these, cardiomegaly may be related to a primary cardiomyopathy. Hypertension is usually ΓÇÿessentialΓÇÖ but may be caused by a coexistent phaeochromocytoma or Conn's tumour.
