Evidence of subclinical heart muscle dysfunction in acromegaly.

A group of ten acromegalic patients, who had no history of heart failure, was studied to determine whether subtle carciac impairment may also be common. None had clinical evidence of coronary artery disease or severe hypertension. Systolic time intervals were recorded in each patient and compared with normal values predicted for sex and heart rate by our own controls and published data. The results indicate that measurable abnormalities in left ventricular performance are common in this sampling. Known duration and activity of disease (growth hormone levels at time of study) did not correlate with the time intervals. The results are consistent with cardiomyopathic effect of excessive growth hormone.