Impaired left ventricular diastolic function in acromegaly: an echocardiographic study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Physiology

Background:

• Acromegaly is associated with cardiac abnormalities.
• Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a known complication of acromegaly.
• Diastolic dysfunction can occur in conditions with LVH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate diastolic function in patients with acromegaly.
• To compare the diastolic function of acromegalic patients with a healthy control group.
• To determine if observed diastolic abnormalities are a consequence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

• Digitized M-mode echocardiograms were obtained from 18 acromegalic patients and age-matched controls.
• Key echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular structure and function were analyzed.
• Statistical comparisons were made between the acromegaly and control groups.

Main Results:

• Acromegalic patients showed significantly increased wall thickness and left ventricular mass index (p < 0.001).
• Patients with acromegaly exhibited prolonged isovolumic relaxation period (p < 0.001).
• Abnormalities in left ventricular filling patterns, including reduced rapid filling (p < 0.01), were observed in acromegaly.

Conclusions:

• Diastolic dysfunction, characterized by impaired relaxation, is present in acromegaly.
• The observed diastolic abnormalities are likely a direct consequence of left ventricular hypertrophy in acromegalic patients.
• These findings underscore the importance of assessing cardiac function in acromegaly management.