Endocrine Abstracts

Acromegaly causes various cardiovascular dysfunctions, and cardiovascular complications are the main cause of increased mortality in non-cured acromegalic patients. The aim of the study was assessment of flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and the concentration of soluble vascular cell adhesive molecule (sVCAM) as the selected markers of endothelial dysfunction in patients suffering from acromegaly. The study was carried out in 40 patients with acromegaly in various stages of the disease (20 in active acromegaly, 20 cured) and in 20 healthy subjects from the control group. FMD was assessed by means of ultrasound method using Sonoace 9900 with a 10 MHz vascular transducer on the brachial artery. Serum sVCAM concentration was analyzed by ELISA.

Results: FMD was statistically significantly lower (P<0.05) in patients with active acromegaly (7.5±3.2%) than in cured subjects (13.9±4.2%). Serum sVCAM concentration was statistically significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients with active acromegaly (673.8±156.8 ng/ml) than in cured subjects (530.6±213.1 ng/ml).

Conclusions: Active acromegaly is associated with the deterioration of arterial reactivity and increased sVCAM concentration. This is due to the impairment of endothelial properties and is connected with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.