TY - JOUR
T1 - Short-term effects of growth hormone (GH) treatment or deprivation on cardiovascular risk parameters and intima-media thickness at carotid arteries in patients with severe GH deficiency
AU - Colao, Annamaria
AU - Di Somma, Carolina
AU - Rota, Francesca
AU - Pivonello, Rosario
AU - Savanelli, Maria Cristina
AU - Spiezia, Stefano
AU - Lombardi, Gaetano
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - To explore early effects of GH treatment or deprivation on cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), we designed this randomized, cross-over study in 34 adult patients with severe GH deficiency. At study entry, the patients were randomized into two groups (A and B); group A (n = 17) received appropriate replacement therapy including GH at standard doses for 6 months and then were withdrawn from GH for the subsequent 6 months; group B (n = 17) received appropriate replacement therapy excluding GH for 6 months with the addition of GH in the subsequent 6 months. After the first 6 months, we observed a significant increase in IGF-I levels and of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol together with a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure, the total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and C-reactive protein in the patients in group A, whereas vascular parameters did not significantly change. In the patients in group B, none of the parameters studied significantly changed. After 6 months of GH withdrawal in the patients in group A, a significant decrease in IGF-I levels, a significant increase in the total/HDL-cholesterol ratio and C-reactive protein, and a trend toward an impairment of carotid IMT and peak velocities were observed. In the patients in group B, the addition of GH to the standard replacement induced a significant increase in IGF-I levels together with a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and C-reactive protein, and an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels with a tread toward an improvement of vascular parameters. At the end of the study, mean IMT was significantly lower than at baseline both in group A (from 0.88 ± 0.28 to 0.85 ± 0.27 mm, P = 0.0003) and in group B (from 0.83 ± 0.21 to 0.80 ± 0.20 min, P = 0.003). In conclusion, 6 months of GH replacement has beneficial effects whereas 6 months of GH deprivation has detrimental effects on cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. These findings support the indication for GH replacement in severe GH deficiency adult patients.
AB - To explore early effects of GH treatment or deprivation on cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), we designed this randomized, cross-over study in 34 adult patients with severe GH deficiency. At study entry, the patients were randomized into two groups (A and B); group A (n = 17) received appropriate replacement therapy including GH at standard doses for 6 months and then were withdrawn from GH for the subsequent 6 months; group B (n = 17) received appropriate replacement therapy excluding GH for 6 months with the addition of GH in the subsequent 6 months. After the first 6 months, we observed a significant increase in IGF-I levels and of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol together with a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure, the total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and C-reactive protein in the patients in group A, whereas vascular parameters did not significantly change. In the patients in group B, none of the parameters studied significantly changed. After 6 months of GH withdrawal in the patients in group A, a significant decrease in IGF-I levels, a significant increase in the total/HDL-cholesterol ratio and C-reactive protein, and a trend toward an impairment of carotid IMT and peak velocities were observed. In the patients in group B, the addition of GH to the standard replacement induced a significant increase in IGF-I levels together with a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and C-reactive protein, and an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels with a tread toward an improvement of vascular parameters. At the end of the study, mean IMT was significantly lower than at baseline both in group A (from 0.88 ± 0.28 to 0.85 ± 0.27 mm, P = 0.0003) and in group B (from 0.83 ± 0.21 to 0.80 ± 0.20 min, P = 0.003). In conclusion, 6 months of GH replacement has beneficial effects whereas 6 months of GH deprivation has detrimental effects on cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. These findings support the indication for GH replacement in severe GH deficiency adult patients.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17844368602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=17844368602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1210/jc.2004-2247
DO - 10.1210/jc.2004-2247
M3 - Article
C2 - 15671089
AN - SCOPUS:17844368602
VL - 90
SP - 2056
EP - 2062
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
SN - 0021-972X
IS - 4
ER -