Ergotamine-derived dopamine agonists and left ventricular function in Parkinson patients: Systolic and diastolic function studied by conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, and two-dimensional speckle tracking

Abstract

Aims: Ergot-derived dopamine agonists (EDDA) induce fibrotic heart valve disease. We aimed to investigate whether EDDA treatment also affects left ventricular (LV) function. Methods and results: Myocardial function was evaluated in 110 Parkinson patients [mean age (63.4 ± 9.0 years)] treated for at least 6 months with either EDDA (n = 71) or non-EDDA (n = 39). LV ejection fraction did not differ between EDDA and non-EDDA patients [63 ± 4% vs. 65 ± 4% (ns)]. There was no difference in prevalence of diastolic dysfunction between EDDA and non-EDDA patients [7% vs. 8% (ns)]. Finally, averaged LV systolic myocardial strain and longitudinal displacement analysed by means of two-dimensional speckle tracking showed no difference between EDDA and non-EDDA patients [strain: 19 ± 3% vs. 19 ± 2% (ns) and longitudinal displacement: 12 ± 2 mm vs. 12 ± 2 mm (ns)]. Elevated p-NT-proBNP was found in 38% of EDDA patients and in 59% of non-EDDA patients (ns). Conclusion: In contrast to the well-established association between EDDA treatment and valvular fibrosis, EDDA did not have a detectable adverse impact on myocardial systolic and diastolic function. © The Author 2008.