Goiter, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in patients with acromegaly

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between selected acromegaly complications such as IGF-1 serum concentrations at diagnosis as well as of controlled and uncontrolled disease.

Methods: A total of 113 acromegaly patients were enrolled to the study and the duration of active and uncontrolled disease was evaluated as a crucial cause of selected complications.

Results: Goiter, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglycerydemia, hypertension and ischemic heart disease were diagnosed in 85(75.2 %), 23(20.3 %), 48(51.0 %), 15(13.3 %), 65(57.5 %) and 18(15.9%) patients, respectively. Prevalence of goiter and diabetes was significantly related to the duration of uncontrolled acromegaly (p<0.01) as well as to the prevalence of hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (p0.05). After three years, there was a significant risk of an acromegaly patient being diagnosed at least with one of the above mentioned diseases (p<0.05) and such risk became more significant after four years (p0.05) related to the prevalence of the already mentioned complications.

Conclusion: The treatment of acromegaly patients should be geared towards fulfilling all criteria for controlled disease, thereby alleviating potential complications and decreasing mortality.