The nurse assesses a 40-year-old client with acromegaly in an outpatient health clinic. Which new finding is most important to report to the health care provider?

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11ecbb05_c975_222c_b433_e57405b3e049_MD0009_00 Acromegaly is an uncommon condition caused by an overproduction of growth hormone (GH). It is usually due to pituitary adenoma, and onset in adult clients generally occurs at age 40-45. In an adult, increased GH results in overgrowth of soft tissues of the face, hands, feet, and organs. Additional heart sounds (S3, S4) require further assessment for cardiac conditions (eg, heart failure). (Options A, B, and C) Although joint pain, skin changes, and hyperglycemia (normal fasting glucose 70-99 mg/dL [3.9-5.5 mmol/L]) are associated with acromegaly, these are not as life-threatening as acute heart failure (must be reported immediately to the health care provider). Educational objective: Acromegaly is an uncommon condition caused by growth hormone overproduction leading to overgrowth of soft tissues of the face, hands, feet, and organs. The nurse should monitor the client for signs and symptoms of acute complications (eg, heart failure) and report findings to the health care provider.

The Nurse Assesses a 40-Year-Old Client with Acromegaly in an Outpatient