Cardiomyopathy in phaeochromocytoma: report of a case with a 16-year follow-up after surgery and review of the literature.
A 39-year-old woman had suffered from congestive heart failure of unknown cause for 3.5 years before a phaeochromocytoma was diagnosed. After pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine, the tumour was removed by surgery resulting in disappearance of signs of heart disease. The patient was followed for 16 years: at that time she was free of symptoms and X-ray and echocardiography showed only a slightly enlarged heart and a minor impairment of left ventricular performance. Six similar cases from the literature are reviewed. The significance of catecholamines in causing heart disease in patients with phaeochromocytoma is discussed.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D002395:Catecholamines