No evidence of a detrimental effect of cabergoline therapy on cardiac valves in patients with acromegaly.
BACKGROUND
The effects of cabergoline on cardiac valves have been extensively studied in Parkinson's disease and hyperprolactinemia but not in acromegaly, a condition at risk of cardiac valve abnormalities.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and incidence of heart valve disease and regurgitation in a series of patients with acromegaly treated with cabergoline, by comparison with matched patients who had never received this drug.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional and longitudinal study in a single referral center.


METHODS
Forty-two patients who had received cabergoline at a median cumulative dose of 203 mg for a median of 35 months were compared to 46 patients with acromegaly who had never received cabergoline and who were matched for age, sex, and disease duration. A subgroup of patients receiving cabergoline (n = 26) was evaluated longitudinally before and during cabergoline treatment and compared to a group not receiving cabergoline and followed during the same period (n = 26). Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings were reviewed by two cardiologists blinded to treatment.


RESULTS
Demographic and clinical features were not significantly different between the groups. Compared to acromegalic controls, patients receiving cabergoline did not have a higher prevalence or incidence of valve abnormalities. A slightly higher prevalence of aortic valve regurgitation and remodeling was found in the controls relative to the cabergoline-treated patients (P < 0.02 and P < 0.03, respectively), but this was related to the presence of aortic dilatation.


CONCLUSIONS
Cabergoline therapy is not associated with an increased risk of cardiac valve regurgitation or remodeling in acromegalic patients at the doses used in this study.
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, F-94275 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
Luigi
L
Maione
Cyril
C
Garcia
Amir
A
Bouchachi
Nozha
N
Kallel
Patrick
P
Maison
Sylvie
S
Salenave
Jacques
J
Young
Patrick
P
Assayag
Philippe
P
Chanson
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077465:Cabergoline; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004873:Ergolines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D000077465:Cabergoline