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Occurrence of ventricular late potentials in patients with active acromegaly
B L Herrmann1, C Bruch, B Saller
1Division of Endocrinology, University of Essen, Germany. burkhard.herrmann@uni-essen.de
Insights
Active acromegaly significantly increases the risk of cardiac issues. Signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) late potentials, indicating potential heart damage, are common in active acromegaly patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Acromegaly, a condition of excess growth hormone, is linked to increased risks of ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
- Signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) late potentials are known predictors of ventricular dysrhythmias, particularly in post-myocardial infarction patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of SAECG late potentials in patients with acromegaly.
- To investigate the relationship between late potentials and acromegaly disease activity.
- To assess the association of late potentials with myocardial hypertrophy in acromegaly.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 48 acromegaly patients (16 active, 32 controlled) and 38 healthy controls.
- SAECG was performed to detect late potentials.
- Disease activity was defined by IGF-1 and GH levels post-glucose load.
Main Results:
- Late potentials were detected in 56% of active acromegaly patients versus 6% in controlled patients (P = 0.001).
- The overall prevalence of late potentials in acromegaly patients (23%) was significantly higher than in controls (0%; P < 0.001).
- Late potentials were not correlated with muscle mass index, age, gender, disease duration, or BMI.
Conclusions:
- Late potentials are frequently observed in active acromegaly.
- SAECG late potentials may serve as an early and sensitive marker for myocardial injury in acromegaly patients.
Objective:
Patients with acromegaly have an increased risk of ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death. Late potentials in a signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG), a predictor of ventricular dysrhythmias, are frequently seen in patients after previous myocardial infarction, but little is known about the prevalence of late potentials in acromegaly. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of late potentials in patients with acromegaly and their relation to the activity of the disease and to myocardial hypertrophy.
Patients:
The study included 48 patients with acromegaly [27 males, 21 females, mean age 52.3 +/- 14.2 years, 16 active disease, 32 cured or 'well controlled', under treatment with sandostatin analogues (12/32)] and 38 healthy volunteers as a control group.
Results:
Late potentials were detected in 9/16 (56%) patients with active acromegaly vs. 2/32 (6%) with cured/well controlled acromegaly (P = 0.001), defined as normal age-related IGF-1 levels and GH levels suppressible below 1 microg/l after an oral glucose load (75 g). Late potentials were not related to muscle mass index (127 +/- 35 active vs. 123 +/- 34 g/m2 cured/well controlled). The association of disease activity with the detection of late potentials was independent of age, gender, duration of the disease and body mass index. In comparison to the control group, the prevalence of late potentials was significantly higher in patients with acromegaly (23%) than in the control group (0%; P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Late potentials in the SAECG are frequently seen in active acromegaly and may represent an early and sensitive parameter to detect myocardial injury in acromegaly.