Cardiovascular Risk in Acromegaly

Acromegaly is associated with cardiovascular disease, the principal cause of increased mortality. Direct cardiac effects of GH/IGF-1 are cardiomyocyte growth and cardiac contractility, cardiac remoddeling. Other important risk factors in acromegaly are hypertension, valvular diseases, arrhytmias. Older patients with long-term uncontrolled disease may develop congestive heart failure as end-stage of acromegalic cardiomyopathy. Early treatment of acromegaly is essential for evolution and prognosis of cardiovascular complications.