Dysrhythmias and sudden death in acromegalic heart disease. A clinicopathologic study.

A clinicopathologic investigation was carried out in a patient with acromegaly from acidophylic adenoma of the hypophysis. Pronounced cardiomegaly and disturbances in impulse formation and conduction led to sudden death. The problem of acromegalic cardiomyopathy has been reviewed. Particular attention has been focused on the histopathologic findings in the working and specific myocardium, and in the intrinsic nervous supply to the sinoatrial node, which were correlated with the electrocardiographic features of atrioventricular conduction delay and sick sinus syndrome.