ACROMEGALIC HEART-DISEASE

Acromegaly is a syndrome of autonomous overproduction of growth hormon e (GH), most commonly caused by a pituitary adenoma, Hypersecretion of GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) leads to somatic enlargem ent, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. There is increasing awarenes s that clinically elevated GH and ICE-I levels lead to a cardiomyopath y that is independent of the presence of coexisting risk factors for h eart disease. This article will review the clinicopathologic effects o f GH and TGF I on the cardio vascular system as investigated in patien ts with acromegaly and experimental animal models of GH excess.