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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Cardiac Stress Test Induced by Dobutamine and Monitored by Cardiac Catheterization in Mice
Published on: February 10, 2013
Acromegaly-induced cardiomyopathy with dobutamine-induced outflow tract obstruction
Mahmoud A Abdelsalam1, Todd B Nippoldt2, Jeffrey B Geske1
1Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Acromegaly can cause cardiomyopathy that mimics hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during dobutamine stress tests. Early diagnosis and management of this condition are vital for improving survival in acromegaly patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone, can lead to significant cardiovascular complications, including cardiomyopathy.
- Preoperative cardiac evaluation is crucial for patients with acromegaly undergoing pituitary surgery.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old man with acromegaly presented for preoperative cardiac assessment.
- Dobutamine stress echocardiography revealed a hyperdynamic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a significant left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient, but no myocardial ischemia.
- Cardiac MRI showed concentric hypertrophy without delayed enhancement.
Findings:
- Acromegaly-induced cardiomyopathy can present with features mimicking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, particularly under dobutamine provocation.
- The observed LVOT gradient during stress testing is a key diagnostic clue.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing acromegaly-induced cardiomyopathy to avoid misdiagnosis as primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Prompt diagnosis and tailored management of acromegaly-related cardiac dysfunction are essential for improving patient outcomes and survival.
Abstract:
A 50-year-old man with a history of acromegaly was referred for preoperative cardiac evaluation preceding trans-sphenoidal resection of a pituitary macroadenoma. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was negative for myocardial ischaemia. Resting left ventricular (LV) LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 64% and there was hypertrophy of ventricular septum (18 mm) without resting LV outflow tract obstruction. With 40 µg/kg/min of dobutamine, the LVEF became hyperdynamic at 80%, and there was a maximal instantaneous LV outflow tract gradient of 77 mm Hg. There was no delayed myocardial enhancement on cardiac MRI and the pattern of hypertrophy was concentric. Acromegaly-induced cardiomyopathy can mimic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the setting of dobutamine provocation. Because cardiomyopathy is an important cause of mortality in acromegaly, diagnosis and appropriate management are critical to improve survival.
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