title: Impact of Pheochromocytoma on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and QTc Prolongation: Comparison with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Excessive catecholamine causes the alteration of cardiac structure and function. This study evaluated if there is any difference in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and QTc prolongation in conditions with pheochromocytoma and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 20 pheochromocytoma patients for cardiovascular events prior to diagnosis. The patient's clinical history and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings were compared to those of 20 patients diagnosed with TC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left ventricular (LV) mass index (133.3±37.8 vs. 113.3±17.3, p=0.031), relative wall thickness (0.55±0.15 vs. 0.47±0.07, p=032) and elevated blood pressure (BP) were more prominent in pheochromocytoma compared to TC. The mean creatinine kinase-MB elevation, reduced LV systolic function and ST segment changes were more prominent in the TC group compared to the pheochromocytoma groups (all p<0.05). The prevalence of QTc prolongation was high in patients with pheochromocytoma (45%) and TC (55%), and TC male patients appeared to have a more prolonged QTc interval. Urine epinephrine (r=0.844, p=0.004) and norepinephrine level (r=0.782, p=0.013) were significantly correlated with LV mass index, and the predictors for the QTc prolongation were male gender and the presence of LVH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A prolonged QTc was prominent in pheochromocytoma and TC regardless of BP and systolic LV function, and LVH was more prominent in pheochromocytoma than TC.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Im
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: You Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ga In
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Je Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Joon
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kosin University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Catecholamines; Hypertrophy, left ventricular; Long QT syndrome