Growth hormone treatment on atherosclerosis: Results of a 5-year open, prospective, controlled study in male patients with severe growth hormone deficiency

Background: Severe GH deficiency (GHD) is associated with, increased cardiovascular risk and intima-media thickness (IMT) at major arteries. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the 5-yr effects of GH replacement on common carotid IMT and insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) (at least two of the following: triglycerides levels ≥ 1.7 mmol/liter, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels ≤ 1.0 mmol/liter, blood pressure above 130/85 mm Hg, fasting glucose 6.1-7 or 2 hr after glucose 7.7-11.1 mmol/liter). Design: This was an interventional, open, prospective, controlled study. Patients: Patients included 35 men with severe GHD and 35 age-matched healthy men as controls. Intervention: All patients received standard replacement therapy; GH replacement was added in 22 patients (group A) and refused by 13 others (group B). Measurements: Five-year changes in IMT and IRS prevalence were measured. Results: At baseline, IMT was higher in the patients with (P <0.001) and without IRS (P = 0.004) than in controls. Eighteen patients (51.4%) and two controls (5.7%; P <0.0001) had IRS. At study end, use of lipid-lowering drugs (92.3, vs. 13.6 and 34.3%, P