Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Malignant ventricular tachycardia in acromegaly: a case report
Zhe An1, Yu-quan He1, Guo-hui Liu1
1Department of Cardiology, China-Japan United Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Context:
In patients with acromegaly, cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death; sudden death has been associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In other patients with life-threatening malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, surgical placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has proved highly effective in reducing sudden death rates.
Case Report:
The present article reports the case of a 50-year-old male acromegalic patient who presented symptoms of syncope induced by ventricular tachycardia. An ICD was surgically implanted and a pituitary adenoma, which was responsible for the acromegaly, was completely removed in the same procedure. The surgery was successful and the ventricular arrhythmias were effectively terminated. During six months of follow-up, no documented arrhythmic episodes occurred.
Conclusion:
In patients with acromegaly, malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia might be effectively controlled by implantation of an ICD and surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma.
Related Concept Videos
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Dysrhythmias II: Classification of Tachyarrhythmias
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

