Aims: The cardiac valvular risk associated with lower exposure to cabergoline in common endocrine conditions such as hyperprolactinemia is unknown. Methods and results: We performed a cross-sectional, case-control echocardiographic study to assess the valvular status in 102 subjects receiving cabergoline for endocrine disorders and 51 matched control subjects. Cabergoline treatment ranged from 12 to 228 months, with a cumulative dose of 18-1718 mg. Valvular regurgitation was equally prevalent in both groups and was almost exclusively mild. Two cabergoline-treated subjects had moderate mitral regurgitation; there was no relationship between cabergoline dose and the presence or severity of mitral valve regurgitation (PZNS). Mitral valve tenting area was significantly greater in the cabergoline group when compared with the control subjects (PZ0.03). Mitral valve leaflet thickening was observed in 5.9% of cabergoline-treated subjects; no relationship with the cumulative cabergoline dose was found. No patient had aortic or tricuspid valvular restriction. Conclusion: No significantly increased risk of clinically relevant cardiac valve disorders was found in subjects treated with long-term cabergoline therapy at the doses used in endocrine practice. While exposure to cabergoline appears to be safe during low-dose long-term therapy, an association with subclinical changes in mitral valve geometry cannot be completely excluded.
Prevalence:The prevalence of pituitary tumors has been a topic of controversy for many years. Autopsy and radiological series show that pituitary incidentalomas may be present in one of six people. Recent epidemiological data suggest that clinically apparent pituitary adenomas have a prevalence of approximately one in 1,000 people in the general population. The disconnect between these two prevalence rates underlines the common clinical quandary of how to manage pituitary incidentalomas, particularly those lacking clinical signs/symptoms or hormonal abnormalities. Management:The natural history of incidentalomas suggests that periodic hormonal, clinical and radiological follow-up is the optimal approach. In the absence of tumor growth or relevant symptoms, screening can be continued intermittently or curtailed based on the clinical judgment of the physician. In the presence of hormonal hypersecretion, the management of pituitary incidentalomas, whether they are micro- or macroadenomas, should follow accepted clinical guidelines. For incidental pituitary macroadenomas without hormonal hypersecretion, clinical management should also include assessments for visual field impairment or hypopituitarism. In such cases, regular radiological and hormonal follow-up is required to identify tumor growth or the appearance of new symptoms. In the presence of tumor growth or new hormonal abnormalities, surgical options should be considered and discussed with the patient.
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