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Aortic root ectasia in patients with acromegaly: experience at a single center
Author(s) -
Casini Alessandra Ferri,
Neto Leonardo Vieira,
Fontes Rosita,
França Rodrigo Fraguas,
Xavier Sérgio Salles,
Gadelha Mônica Roberto
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04067.x
Subject(s) - acromegaly , ectasia , medicine , cardiology , body mass index , aortic valve , growth hormone , hormone
Summary Background Acromegaly is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, and increased aortic root diameter has been recently described in the literature as a possible feature of acromegalic cardiomyopathy. Objective To assess the aortic root diameter and the prevalence of aortic ectasia in acromegalic patients. Patients and methods This paper presents a transversal analysis of 42 acromegalic patients by Doppler echocardiogram and comparison with 42 age, sex, body surface area and hypertension matched controls. Results The mean aortic root diameter at the level of the aortic leaflets was increased in acromegalic patients when compared to controls (3·4 ± 0·5 vs 2·9 ± 0·4 cm, respectively, P < 0·0001). The aortic root diameter was significantly greater in men than in women (3·6 ± 0·6 cm vs 3·2 ± 0·4 cm, respectively, P = 0·004), and the left ventricular mass index was positively correlated with the diameter of the aorta ( r = 0·37, P = 0·01). Using a cut‐off point ≥ 3·8 cm, an aortic ectasia prevalence of 26·1 vs 2·3% was found in acromegalic patients and controls, respectively ( P = 0·002). Only acromegaly was associated with aortic ectasia ( P = 0·01). Conclusion The aortic root diameter was higher, and the prevalence of aortic ectasia was more common in acromegalic patients than in controls. In addition, only acromegalic disease was associated with aortic ectasia, suggesting the direct effects of GH and insulin‐like growth factor‐I excess on the cardiovascular system.