title: Heart involvement in metastatic carcinoid disease.
abstract: Sixteen patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors of ileal or cecal origin were studied in order to evaluate the frequency and degree of cardiac involvement in a nonselected patient group. We have also studied the correlation between plasma hormone levels (e.g., 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and substance P) and the degree of cardiac involvement. The patients underwent physical examinations, electrocardiograms, chest x-rays, cardiac catheterization, and echocardiography. Plasma levels of 5-HT and substance P were analyzed. Carcinoid heart involvement was found in 3 of 16 patients (19%) but no patient had subjective symptoms associated with heart disease. Four patients (25%) had slight pulmonary hypertension. No left-sided heart lesions were seen. No correlation between blood levels of 5-HT or substance P and heart involvement was found. Eight patients died during the follow-up period, but in none of these was the cause of death cardiac failure. Carcinoid heart disease is not as common in our patients as in patients selected on a cardiological basis described in earlier studies. Echocardiography appears to be the most efficient technique for detection of even subclinical heart involvement and a useful tool for following its progress.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002275:Carcinoid Heart Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin