Quantifying subtle changes in cardiovascular mechanics in acromegaly: a Doppler myocardial imaging study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Acromegaly (ACM) is associated with cardiovascular complications.
• Early detection of cardiac dysfunction in ACM is crucial for management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail cardiovascular structural and functional changes in ACM patients.
• To assess the utility of Doppler-based myocardial deformation imaging (DMI) in identifying subtle cardiac dysfunction in ACM.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography and DMI were performed on 69 ACM patients and 31 controls.
• Left and right ventricular peak systolic longitudinal and radial strain (S) were measured.
• Arterial stiffness indices were assessed using an echo-tracking system.

Main Results:

• ACM patients showed increased left ventricular (LV) mass and wall thickness compared to controls.
• Reduced LV ejection fraction and impaired diastolic function were observed in ACM patients.
• Both longitudinal and radial LV strain values were significantly lower in ACM patients.

Conclusions:

• ACM patients present with LV concentric hypertrophy and systolic/diastolic dysfunction.
• These cardiac abnormalities persist even in controlled acromegaly.
• DMI is valuable for characterizing global LV systolic dysfunction, encompassing both longitudinal and radial components.