I-Acromegaly yisifo esibangelwa ukukhiqizwa ngokweqile kwe-hormone yokukhula (ebizwa nangokuthi i-somatotropic hormone noma i-GH ye-Growth Hormon). Lokhu kuholela ekushintsheni kokubukeka kobuso, ukwanda kobukhulu bezandla nezinyawo kanye nezitho eziningi, okuyimbangela yezimpawu eziyinhloko nezimpawu zesifo.

Kuyisimo esiyivelakancane, esithinta cishe amacala angama-60 kuye kwangama-70 esigidini ngasinye, esimele amacala ama-3 kuye kwayi-5 kwisigidi ngasinye sezakhamizi ngonyaka.

Kubantu abadala, kuvame ukutholakala phakathi kweminyaka engu-30 no-40. Ngaphambi kokuthomba, ukwanda kwe-GH kubangela i-gigantism noma i-giganto-acromegaly.

Isizathu esiyinhloko se-acromegaly isimila esiyingozi (esingewona umdlavuza) se-pituitary gland, indlala (ebizwa nangokuthi i-pituitary gland), etholakala ebuchosheni futhi evame ukukhipha amahomoni amaningana kuhlanganise ne-GH.