SHORT-TERM REDUCTION OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR MASS IN PRIMARY HYPERTROPHICCARDIOMYOPATHY BY OCTREOTIDE INJECTIONS

Growth factors have been shown to be associated with primary hypertrop hic cardiomyopathy. Octreotide, a long acting somatostatin analogue, c an prevent the stimulating effect of growth factors and decrease the l eft ventricular mass in patients with acromegaly. In the light of thes e results, three patients with primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy wer e treated with subcutaneous octreotide (50 mu g three times a day duri ng the first week and 100 mu g twice a day for the following three wee ks). Initially, two patients were in New York Heart Association class II in and one was in class III. At the end of a four week treatment se ssion all were in class I. There were significant decreases in left ve ntricular posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum thickness, and left ventricular mass in all three patients. Both left ventricula r end diastolic and end systolic diameters had increased in all of the patients at the end of the fourth week. Two of three patients showed improved diastolic filling: their hyperdynamic systolic performance re turned to normal. No side effects were observed during octreotide trea tment. The considerable improvement obtained with the short term octre otide treatment in patients with primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy s eems promising.