Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging
09:05

Assessment of Cardiac Morphological and Functional Changes in Mouse Model of Transverse Aortic Constriction by Echocardiographic Imaging

Published on: June 21, 2016

Cardiac size and function in acromegaly

J B Martins, R E Kerber, B M Sherman

    Circulation
    |November 1, 1977
    PubMed

    Insights

    Acromegaly patients may develop heart problems like left ventricular hypertrophy, especially with long-term disease or high growth hormone levels. These cardiac changes may be reversible with treatment, indicating a specific acromegalic cardiomyopathy.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Endocrinology
    • Internal Medicine

    Background:

    • Acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone, is associated with cardiovascular complications.
    • Understanding the specific cardiac manifestations and their relationship to disease severity is crucial.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate cardiac abnormalities in acromegalic patients.
    • To identify factors associated with cardiac dysfunction, such as disease duration and growth hormone levels.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized echocardiography, phonocardiography, stress electrocardiography with Thallium perfusion scanning, and gated radioisotope left ventricular angiocardiograms.
    • Evaluated sixteen patients with acromegaly, assessing cardiac structure and function.

    Main Results:

    • Six patients with coexistent hypertension or coronary disease showed abnormalities including increased left ventricular mass index and impaired ventricular function.
    • Three patients with prolonged acromegaly (>13 years) or very high growth hormone (>100 ng/ml) exhibited concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, with one also showing dysfunction.
    • No cardiac abnormalities were observed in patients with shorter disease duration, lower growth hormone levels, or normalized levels after therapy.

    Conclusions:

    • Acromegaly is linked to a high prevalence of coronary artery and hypertensive heart disease.
    • A distinct, potentially reversible cardiomyopathy may occur in acromegaly, possibly due to prolonged disease or elevated growth hormone levels.

    More Related Videos

    Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse10:22

    Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse

    Published on: October 26, 2017

    Biventricular Assessment of Cardiac Function and Pressure-Volume Loops by Closed-Chest Catheterization in Mice08:21

    Biventricular Assessment of Cardiac Function and Pressure-Volume Loops by Closed-Chest Catheterization in Mice

    Published on: June 15, 2020

    Related Concept Videos

    Structure of Cardiac Muscles01:13

    Structure of Cardiac Muscles

    Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, is a specialized type of muscle found exclusively in the heart. Its unique structural and functional characteristics enable the heart to perform its vital role of pumping blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, possess an endomysium and perimysium but do not have an epimysium.
    Compared to skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle cells are small and mostly have a single nucleus. Additionally, they are usually...
    Overview of the Heart01:07

    Overview of the Heart

    The heart, a muscular organ located in the chest, functions as the body's pump, circulating blood through the vascular system. It has four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
    The heart's structure...
    Location and Orientation of the Heart01:13

    Location and Orientation of the Heart

    The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
    Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

    Imbalances in Cardiac Output

    The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
    CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
    Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

    Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

    Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
    Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

    Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

    Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...