[Cardiovascular changes in acromegaly. Prospective study]

We present 38 acromegalyc patients who were studied by non invasive methods to assess the frequency of cardiovascular complications. Seventy one percent of the cases presented some type of cardiovascular alteration. In 68% we observed left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography which was the most sensitive method to detect it. In 71% we obtained abnormal electrocardiograms, mainly because of conduction disturbances, being right bundle branch block the most frequent. Half of the cases had pulmonary fibrosis and chronic bronchitis. Arterial hypertension was present in 32%. Diabetes mellitus in 21%. Only 2 cases had coronary heart disease. In 37% of the patients who underwent hypophisectomy we observed regression up to 90% of the cardiac complications except for left ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary fibrosis. None of the patients has died.