ASSESSMENT OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION IN ACROMEGALIC PATIENTS USING RADIONUCLIDE VENTRICULOGRAPHY PARAMETERS

The left ventricular function of 14 acromegalic patients was investigated using radionuclide ventriculography. After labeling the red blood cells with 750-1,000 MBq Tc-99m-pertechnetate, ECG-triggered left anterior oblique images were recorded. Fourier analysis was then performed on the time-activity curve of the left ventricle. The ejection fraction (EF), peak ejection rate, time to peak ejection (TPE), time to endsystole (TES), peak filling rate (PFR), time to peak filling (TPF), 1/3 EF, 1/3 filling fraction (FF), TPE/T, TPF/T and TES/T values (T: time interval for one heart beat) were calculated for each patient. Five patients (35.7%) had clinical cardiovascular symptoms. A decreased EF was observed in 28.5% of the patients. In comparison to the control group, the EF (53.5 +/- 5.5 vs. 60.8 +/- 5% p < 0.009), 1/3 EF (14.45 +/- 3 vs. 20 +/- 4%, p < 0.00 1), 1/3 FF (28.5 +/- 10.6 vs. 41 +/- 11%, p < 0.02), TPE (158 +/- 33 vs. 132 +/- 35 ms, p < 0.01), TPE/T (20.2 +/- 5 vs. 16 +/- 3.7, p < 0.01) and PFR (2.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.4 EDC/s, p < 0.005) were significantly different. It was found that TPE was prolonged and the early ejection function was decreased. Diastolic dysfunction was found in 5 (35.7%) patients; 21.4% of the patients had decreased PFR values although they had no cardiac symptom, hypertension and/or cardiomegaly. Scintigraphic parameters did not correlate with the presence of hypertension, cardiomegaly or cardiovascular symptoms. In summary, using radionuclide ventriculography parameters, systolic and diastolic dysfunction were observed in 28.5 and 35.7% of acromegalic patients, respectively.