Cardiovascular disease in acromegaly patients remains a major cause of morbidity and all-cause mortality. This systematic review investigates the effect of the first growth hormone lowering intervention on cardiac parameters. Systematic review. Studies evaluating cardiac parameters following first intervention in acromegaly published up to February 25 2022 were included in this systematic review. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Primary treatment modalities included (transsphenoidal) surgery and medical treatment with first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands. Cardiac outcome measures were divided into cardiac structure [left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), (indexed) left ventricular mass (LVM/LVMi)] and cardiac function [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and E/A ratio]. Twenty-six studies (17 cohort studies and 9 case reports) were included out of 2541 potential studies. The risk of bias analysis categorized, 24 studies as low risk and 2 studies as intermediate risk. Disease-associated changes in cardiac structure and function generally improved in most studies following primary treatment. LVM/LVMi significantly decreased in 9/15 studies and the prevalence of LVH in 3/13 studies. LVEF significantly increased in 9/14 studies and E/A ratio in 6/7 studies. Despite the limited number of studies, cardiac structure improved more in patients achieving biochemical remission than in those failing to achieve biochemical remission. Acromegaly-associated structural and functional myocardial changes improve with both medical and surgical treatment. Normalizing or even reducing GH/IGF-I levels may be key in prevention of further progression of cardiac involvement in acromegaly and adverse cardiac outcomes.
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