Abstract
Introduction
Acromegaly is a relatively rare, chronic hormonal disease resulting in disfigurement. In 90% of the cases, acromegaly is caused by a benign pituitary monoclonal human growth hormone-secreting tumor. Hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy are the most common cardiovascular comorbidites, but serious valvular regurgitation and heart failure could also develop at the end-stages. The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of LV deformational abnormalities using three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in a group of acromegaly patients.
Methods
Thirty-eight acromegaly patients were involved in the present study. Thirteen patients were excluded due to inadequate image quality. The mean age of the remaining patients were 57.2 ± 13.6 years (7 males). The active acromegaly subgroup consisted of 14 patients (mean age: 58.6 ± 14.6 years, 5 males), while the inactive group contained 11 patients (mean age: 54.0 ± 12.9, 2 males). Their data was compared to an age- and gender matched control population, which comprised of 34 healthy volunteers (mean age: 52.7 ± 4.9 years, 15 males). All subjects have undergone complete two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography extended with 3DSTE.
Results
Significant differences in left atrial diameter and volume, LV end-diastolic diameter and volume, interventricular septum and LV posterior wall thickness could be demonstrated between the acromegaly group and healthy controls. Global and mean segmental 3DSTE-derived LV radial strain (RS)(33.2 ± 13.4% vs. 25.2 ± 10.8%, p =0.01 and 36.0 ± 12.1% vs. 28.2 ± 10.0%, p =0.009, respectively) proved to be significantly higher in acromegaly patients compared to controls. Active acromegaly patients had a significantly higher global and mean segmental RS (35.5 ± 14.4% vs. 25.2 ± 10.8%, p =0.03 and 37.9 ± 13.3% vs. 28.2 ± 10.0%, p =0.03, respectively) as compared to that of controls. Between active and inactive acromegaly groups only basal LV circumferential strain (-30.2 ± 4.8% vs. -26.7 ± 4.1%, p =0.02) was found to be significantly different.
Conclusion
With presented clinical, demographic, therapeutic and echocardiographic features, active acromegaly is associated with enhanced LV-RS as compared to the healthy population.
Normal reference values of left ventricular volumetric parameters in healthy adults—real-life single-center experience from the three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Healthy Study
