title: [Cardiac function and the skin microcirculation in acromegaly].
abstract: The microcirculation was measured by nail-fold capillary video microscopy in 21 patients (12 men, 9 women; mean age 54.7 [29-74] years) with acromegaly. Levels of growth hormone (12.0-71.7 microU/ml) and of somatomedin C (2.4-10.5 IU/ml) were elevated in 10 patients, despite preceding treatment. Eleven patients had an increase in myocardial thickness and nine had impairment of left ventricular function, although only slight in most. Left ventricular hypertrophy was demonstrable even in the absence of hypertension. No patient had evidence of coronary heart disease. Nail-fold capillary video microscopy (capillary density, torque index, reactive hyperaemia, epidermal blood flow) failed to distinguish between successfully treated patients and those with persistently elevated growth hormone concentrations or disease duration of over 5 years. There was no evidence of inadequate capillary blood flow as a cause of abnormal function in hypertrophied organs.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Innere Medizin III, Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Universität Homburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leicht
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hartenstein
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schätzer-Klotz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonaventura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schieffer
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Weinges
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005080:Exercise Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone
vernacular_title: Kardiale Funktion und kutane Mikrozirkulation bei Akromegalie.