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Growth hormone resistance in severe heart failure resolves after cardiac transplantation
Author(s) -
Lund Lars H.,
Freda Pamela,
Williams Jill J.,
LaManca John J.,
LeJemtel Thierry H.,
Mancini Donna M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1093/eurjhf/hfp044
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , heart transplantation , cachexia , cardiology , insulin resistance , hormone , transplantation , endocrinology , obesity , cancer
Aims Severe heart failure (HF) is associated with cachexia; this is often reversed post cardiac transplantation (HTx) with frequent development of obesity. Growth hormone (GH) resistance is common in HF and may contribute to cachexia. Whether GH resistance resolves post HTx is unknown. We aimed to confirm that HF is associated with GH resistance and to test the hypothesis that GH resistance resolves post HTx. Methods and results We measured GH, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), and body composition in 10 HF patients awaiting HTx, in 18 patients 11 ± 8 months post HTx, and seven controls. Body mass index was 23.5 ± 3.2 in HF patients and 29.3 ± 5.7 post HTx. HTx patients had gained 14 ± 8 kg since HTx. GH was elevated in HF (control: 0.21 ± 0.25; HF: 1.13 ± 1.19; HTx: 0.11 ± 0.13 ng/mL; P < 0.007), while IGF‐1 was higher in HTx (control: 114 ± 57; HF: 94 ± 52; HTx: 190 ± 106 ng/mL; P < 0.02). HTx had higher total body and abdominal fat %. Conclusion GH resistance is present in severe HF and resolves post HTx. These findings should be confirmed through larger trials.