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Left ventricular structural characteristics in Cushing's syndrome
Journal of Human Hypertension
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Long-term exposure to excess cortisol, not hormone levels or blood pressure, significantly impacts left ventricular remodeling in Cushing's syndrome patients. Echocardiography revealed normalized heart structure after successful treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cushing's syndrome is associated with cardiovascular complications.
- Left ventricular structural changes may occur in patients with Cushing's syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left ventricular structural characteristics using echocardiography in Cushing's syndrome patients.
- To compare these findings with a matched control population.
Main Methods:
- M-mode echocardiography was performed on 18 patients with Cushing's syndrome and 18 controls.
- Subjects were matched for sex, age, body weight, body surface area, blood pressure, and duration of hypertension.
- Relative wall thickness (RWT) and left ventricular mass index were assessed.
Main Results:
- Elevated RWT was observed in 11/18 Cushing's syndrome patients versus 2/18 controls.
- Left ventricular mass index was abnormal in 3/18 Cushing's syndrome patients and 4/18 controls.
- RWT correlated significantly with disease duration, not blood pressure or cortisol levels; normalization occurred post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol, rather than hormone levels or blood pressure, is the primary driver of left ventricular concentric remodeling in Cushing's syndrome.
- Echocardiography is valuable for assessing cardiac structural changes in Cushing's syndrome.
- Successful treatment can reverse cardiac remodeling.