Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Acromegaly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, mostly due to cardiovascular complications. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness in acromegaly patients.

Methods and results: We evaluated 25 consecutive patients with acromegaly (15 females, 10 males, mean age 44.5±10.1 years), and 22 age-matched control subjects (12 females, 10 males, mean age 37.40±7.5 years). LVEDD (left ventricular end diastolic diameter) was significantly elevated in acromegaly patients when compared with control subjects, 4.70±0.30 cm, and 4.40±0.20 cm, respectively (P<0.011). LVESD (left ventricular end systolic diameter) was significantly elevated in patients with acromegaly when compared in control subjects, 2.90±0.20 cm, and 2.60±0.20 cm, respectively (P<0.012). IVS (interventricular septum) parameter was significantly elevated in acromegaly patients when compared with control subjects 1.01±0.12 cm, and 0.89±0.80, respectively (P<0.001). Epicardial fat thickness was significantly elevated in acromegaly patients when compared with control subjects, 0.61±0.19 cm, and 0.30±0.11 cm, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Patients with acromegaly have an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Epicardial fat thickness was significantly elevated in patients with acromegaly. Epicardial fat thickness may be a possible cardiovascular risk factor in acromegaly. Further studies are required to investigate the relation between the value of epicardial fat thickness and the development of cardiac pathologies in patients with acromegaly.