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Short and long‐term cardiovascular effects of growth hormone therapy in growth hormone deficient adults
Author(s) -
Thuesen Leif,
Jergensen Jens O. L.,
Müller Jern R.,
Kristensen Bent Ø.,
Skakkebk Nieis E.,
Vahi Nina,
Christiansen Jens S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1994.tb01827.x
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , endocrinology , diastole , growth hormone , heart rate , hormone therapy , cardiology , blood pressure , hormone , cancer , alternative medicine , pathology , breast cancer
Summary OBJECTIVE Since GH substitution therapy is now available for adult GH deficient patients, information on the cardiovascular effects of GH substitution has assumed major clinical interest. We have therefore assessed cardiovascular effects of short and long‐term growth hormone substitution therapy in these patients. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS Doppler echocardiography was performed in 21 GH deficient patients after 4 months placebo and 4 months GH therapy, in a double blind cross‐over study. In an open design study, 13 patients were reinvestigated following 16 months and 9 patients following 38 months of GH therapy. Twenty‐one age and sex‐matched normal control subjects were also investigated. RESULTS Heart rate was increased in placebo treated patients as compared to controls. After 4 months of GH treatment, heart rate showed a further Increase (10%, P<0·01) and seemed to remain elevated after 16 months of OH therapy. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower in placebo treated patients than in controls, and did not change significantly after OH treatment. The left ventricular diastolic diameter was reduced in patients as compared to controls, but increased after 4 months GH therapy (P>0·05) and seemed to increase further during prolonged GH treatment. Cardiac index was at the same level in controls and in placebo‐treated patients, but increased by 20% following OH therapy and remained elevated after 16 and 38 months (P < 0·05) of GH substitution. CONCLUSION Following GH substitution in GH deficient adult patients, left ventricular diastolic dimensions increased and seemed to normalize, while heart rate and cardiac output were found to be increased to supra‐normal levels.