Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare chronic, and disfiguring endocrine disorder characterized by growth hormone excess, that carries a significant burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; and still unfortunately one of the most important cause of death in acromegaly. The purpose of this study is to describe the cardiovascular events and risk factors concerning patients with acromegaly who are followed up in the endocrinology department of Oujda’s Mohammed VI university hospital.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective data analysis of 10 acromegaly patients followed up in in the endocrinology department of Oujda’s Mohammed VI university hospital. The cardiovascular risk was estimated by the Framingham scoring system.

Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 48 years with a female predominance. Usually there was a delay of 7,67 years from the apparent onset of the disorder until the diagnosis was made. The cardiovascular risk was respectively high, intermediate and low in 4, 3 and 2 patients. Diabetes was diagnoses in 5 patients and intolerance to carbohydrates in 1 patient. Dyslipidemia was present in 8 patients; class 1 obesity in 3 cases and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in 5 patients. Hypertension was observed in 4 patients. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were noticed in 6 cases; standing for atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and repolarization abnormalities. A transthoracic echocardiographic examination revealed a mitral and aortic insufficiency, besides a concentric/eccentric hypertrophy in 4 patients. A tritroncular coronary lesion was observed in 1 patient and the ankle-brachial pressure index was normal in all cases.

Conclusion: Acromegaly is associated with premature cardiovascular mortality and the control of this endocrine disorder lead to a significant improvement of cardiovascular risk factors and to a reduction of the Framingham risk score.