Cushing's Disease is associated with reversible cardiac dysfunction and remodelling assessed by CMR

Abstract

Background Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death in chronic hypercorticism. Cushing’s disease (CD) is caused by a benign pituitary gland secreting tumor resulting in endogen hypercorticism. Few ultrasound studies have described cardiac involvement in Cushing’s disease, particularly left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Hypertrophy has been related to the often associated hypertension and little is known about the effect of high cortisol levels on ventricular mass and function. This is the first comprehensive description of biventricular and left atrial volumes and LV mass assessed by CMR in hypercorticism compared to matched controls. Furthermore, the reversibility of the cardiac phenotype associated with hypercorticism was evaluated after treatment.