Cardiology Letters 2020, 29(4):243-247

Effect of growth hormone hypersecretion on the cardiovascular system

Smaha J, Kužma M, Payer J

V. interná klinika LF UK a UNB Bratislava, Slovenská republika

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are molecules whose overproduction in patients with acromegaly leads to the development of cardiovascular comorbidities. The extent of the disease depends on the length of exposure of myocardial cells and endothelial cells to excessive concentrations of GH/IGF-1. However, the coexistence of other classical cardiovascular risk factors is also important. The most common cardiovascular comorbidities are arterial hypertension, acromegalic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias and coronary artery disease. When a typical echocardiographic image of cardiomyopathy is present rare causes of cardiomyopathy should be considered, especially in young adults. Studies from recent years have shown a significant decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with biochemically well-controlled disease. This paper summarizes the most commonly occurring cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with acromegaly, describing their pathophysiology and clinical management with an emphasis on early and adequate diagnosis.

Keywords: growth hormone; insulin-like growth factor 1; acromegaly; hypertension; atherosclerosis; cardiomyopathy

Published: April 1, 2020  Show citation