[Heart disease in acromegaly. Study of 27 patients]

F Marín1, A M Picó, J G Martínez

  • 1Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante.

Medicina Clinica
|September 21, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Acromegaly patients frequently develop cardiovascular issues, often asymptomatic. Regular cardiac evaluations are crucial for early detection and management of these serious complications in acromegaly.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine

Context:

  • Acromegaly, a condition of excess growth hormone (GH), is linked to increased cardiovascular risks.
  • Cardiovascular complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in acromegaly patients.

Purpose:

  • To assess cardiovascular findings in acromegaly patients using echocardiography and Holter monitoring.
  • To correlate these findings with growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and disease duration.

Summary:

  • A study of 27 acromegaly patients revealed a 49% prevalence of cardiovascular complications, including deaths.
  • Echocardiography showed high rates of left ventricular hypertrophy (66.7%) and diastolic dysfunction (63%).
  • Cardiac issues correlated with disease duration and hypertension, not directly with GH/IGF-1 levels.

Impact:

  • The high incidence of often asymptomatic cardiovascular complications underscores the need for systematic cardiac screening in acromegaly.
  • Early detection and management can potentially reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this patient population.
Abstract

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