Michio Otsuki
   Department   School of Medicine(Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital), School of Medicine
   Position   Professor and Division head
Article types Original article
Language English
Peer review Peer reviewed
Title Characterization of premature atherosclerosis of carotid arteries in acromegalic patients.
Journal Formal name:Clinical endocrinology
Abbreviation:Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)
ISSN code:03000664/03000664
Domestic / ForeginForegin
Volume, Issue, Page 54(6),pp.791-796
Author and coauthor Otsuki M, Kasayama S, Yamamoto H, Saito H, Sumitani S, Kouhara H, Saitoh Y, Ohnishi T, Arita N
Authorship Lead author
Publication date 2001/06
Summary OBJECTIVE:Acromegalic patients have increased mortality from vascular diseases. Although atherosclerotic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipoproteinaemia are highly associated with acromegaly, the prevalence of premature atherosclerosis in acromegalic patients and its relationship to these risk factors have not been reported.DESIGN:We measured mean intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in 21 acromegalic patients without symptomatic atherosclerotic vascular disease, by ultrasound high-resolution B-mode imaging. In analysis 1, it was compared with the predicted mean IMT based on data from existing risk factors (age, male sex, dyslipoproteinaemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking status) in 282 non-acromegalic subjects. In analysis 2, the mean IMT in the 21 acromegalic patients was compared with that in 42 non-acromegalic subjects matched for age, sex and the other atherosclerotic risk factors. We also analysed clinical characteristics between the acromegalic patients with and without the atherosclerosis.RESULTS:Mean IMT in 21 acromegalic patients was 0.92 +/- 0.21 (mean +/- SD) mm. It was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the mean IMT (1.03 +/- 0.12 mm) predicted from their existing risk factors (analysis 1). It was also less than that in 42 non-acromegalic subjects matched for atherosclerotic risk factors (1.07 +/- 0.37 mm; P < 0.05) (analysis 2). Among the acromegalic patients, 10 patients (48%) had increased mean IMT (> or = 1.1 mm) and/or plaque lesions whereas the other 11 had no such atherosclerotic changes. In the patients without the atherosclerotic changes, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) higher, and the prevalence of hypertension was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in those with the atherosclerotic changes.CONCLUSIONS:The extent of carotid atherosclerosis in the acromegalic patients was not higher than that in non-acromegalic subjects, considering
DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2001.01281.x
PMID 11422114