Correlations between Arteriograph-Derived Augmentation Index and Disease Activity in Acromegaly Patients.

Abstract

Objective: The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in acromegaly patients attracted attention to the association between the growth hormone and cardiovascular system. New markers such as the augmentation index (AIx) and central aortic pressure (CAP) have recently been introduced to the clinical practice for a variety of diagnostic and monitoring purposes in predicting arterial stiffness and associated endothelial dysfunction. In this present study, we aimed to determine the condition of the vascular system using the non-invasive arterial stiffness marker; AIx measured using by the Arteriograph device and to evaluate the relationship between these markers and the disease activity in acromegaly patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study included 53 acromegaly patients and 20 individuals age and sex matched as controls. The arterial stiffness was evaluated to estimate the AIx and CAP with a low-frequency suprasystolic waveform analysis in the occluded brachial artery, performed by using a Cardio Scope II Arteriograph device, which was adapted from a standard sphygmomanometer. Results: The mean augmentation index was statistically significantly different between the three groups, being 98% in the active acromegaly (AA) group, 92% in controlled acromegaly (CA) and 79.5% in the control group (p=0.001). In the acromegaly group, the results of the regression analysis indicated a strong correlation of the arterial stiffness parameters with HbA1c and the platelet counts, however, the levels of IGF-1 and GH were not correlated Conclusion: It might be thought that AIx may have an important role in predicting the cardiovascular risk in acromegaly.