title: The long-term cardiovascular outcome of different GH-lowering treatments in acromegaly.
abstract: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the echocardiographic outcome of acromegalic heart disease in patients undergoing different therapeutic approaches, in order to investigate whether SSA could provide therapeutic advantages as compared with neurosurgery. In total of 36, consecutive patients undergoing SSA treatment after neurosurgery were enrolled in this study (Gr.Surg.-SSA). After 12 months of treatment, 21 patients had a controlled disease, while the remaining 15 patients displayed uncontrolled disease. Twelve acromegalic patients who did not undergo SSA treatment due to controlled disease after neurosurgery were enrolled as control group (Gr.Surg). The echocardiographic-Doppler study was performed before neurosurgery and after 12-months of follow-up. After follow-up, a significant reduction in serum GH and IGF-I values, Left Ventricular Mass index (LVMi) and LVH rate with an improvement in diastolic function was observed in both groups of patients. We found a significant reduction of LVMi either in patients with controlled disease or in those with poorly controlled disease undergoing SSA treatment. Diastolic function and of LVH percentage improved in all groups, but significantly so only in controlled patients, no significant difference in any echocardiographic parameters and in the prevalence of the LVH rate were observed between the three groups of patients at the end of follow-up. Therefore, our data appear to show that for echographic parameters medical treatment additive beneficial effects is compared to neurosurgery alone. SSA also appears to contribute to the improvement of acromegalic cardiomyopathy also in patients who did not achieve biochemical control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Catholic University, Via Cassia 901, Rome 00189, Italy. laurademarinis@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Marinis
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazziotti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mettimano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milardi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maira
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pontecorvi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giustina
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013004:Somatostatin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D015282:Octreotide