Follow-up study of the heart in acromegaly: pre- and post-operative evaluation.

Pre-operative and post-operative echocardiographic data were analyzed from 8 patients with acromegaly. Pre-operatively, end-diastolic diameter was greater than 55 mm in 5 patients (63%) and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 3 patients (38%). However, left ventricular function was normal (fractional shortening of the left ventricle greater than 28%) in all patients except 1. All patients had increased left ventricular mass. There was no significant correlation between left ventricular mass and basal plasma growth hormone concentration. An average of 23.9 months after hypophysectomy, growth hormone concentration was significantly decreased. However, the abnormal echocardiographic findings remained. In conclusion, echocardiographic abnormalities (left ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy) are common in patients with acromegaly, but systolic function is, in general, maintained. These cardiac abnormalities persist after reduction of plasma growth hormone concentration.