Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac morphology and function, exercise capacity and serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency.

Elgzyri, Targ LU ; Castenfors, Jan ; Hägg, Erik ; Backman, Christer ; Thorén, Marja and Bramnert, Margareta LU (2004) In Clinical Endocrinology 61(1). p.113-122
Abstract
objectives To assess effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac structure and function, exercise capacity as well as serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency (GHD).



patients and methods Thirty-one patients (six females, 25 males), aged 60-79 years (mean 68 years) with GHD on stable cortisone and thyroxine substitution were studied. All men with gonadotropin deficiency had testosterone and one woman had oestrogen replacement. They were randomized in a double-blind manner to GH or placebo treatment for 6 months, followed by another 12 months GH (Humatrope, Eli Lilly & Co, Uppsala, Sweden). GH dose was 0·017 mg/kg/week for 1 month and then 0·033 mg/kg/week divided into daily subcutaneous injections at... (More)
objectives To assess effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac structure and function, exercise capacity as well as serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency (GHD).



patients and methods Thirty-one patients (six females, 25 males), aged 60-79 years (mean 68 years) with GHD on stable cortisone and thyroxine substitution were studied. All men with gonadotropin deficiency had testosterone and one woman had oestrogen replacement. They were randomized in a double-blind manner to GH or placebo treatment for 6 months, followed by another 12 months GH (Humatrope, Eli Lilly & Co, Uppsala, Sweden). GH dose was 0·017 mg/kg/week for 1 month and then 0·033 mg/kg/week divided into daily subcutaneous injections at bedtime. Echocardiography, exercise capacity tests and serum lipid measurements were performed at 0, 6, 12 and 18 months.



results During the 6-month placebo-controlled period there were no significant changes in the placebo group, but in the GH-treated group there was a significant increase in IGF-I to normal levels for age, with median IGF-I from 6·9 to 18·5 nmol/l, increase in resting heart rate and maximal working capacity. During the open GH study, IGF-I increased from 8·7 to 19·2 nmol/l at 6 months and 18·8 nmol/l at 12 months (P <= 0·001). At 6 months, in the open GH study group, a minor decrease in aortic outflow tract integral (VTI) from 21·8 to 20·7 cm (P = 0·031) and an increase in heart rate at rest from 63 to 67 bpm (P = 0·017), heart rate at maximum exercise from 138 to 144 bpm (P = 0·005) and maximum load at exercise from 142 to 151 Watts (P = 0·014) were seen. These changes were temporary and returned at 12 months with no significant difference from baseline values. Left ventricular dimensions and blood pressure showed no significant changes. At 6 months, in the open GH study group, there was a significant decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from 3·7 to 3·4 mmol/l (P = 0·006), a decrease in LDL/HDL ratio from 3·4 to 3·1 (P = 0·036) and a decrease in serum total cholesterol from 5·6 to 5·3 mmol/l (P = 0·036). At 12 months, serum lipids showed same changes with a significant decrease in serum LDL cholesterol (P = 0·0008), in LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0·0005) and in serum total cholesterol (P = 0·049). Serum HDL cholesterol showed no significant change at 6 months, at 12 months a significant increase was seen from 1·2 to 1·4 mmol/l (P = 0·007). There were no significant changes in serum triglycerides.



conclusions GH substitution to elderly patients with GHD caused only a transient increase in heart rate. At the end of the 12 months there were no significant changes on cardiac noninvasive structural and functional parameters. Maximal working capacity transiently improved. Thus, the therapy was safe without negative effects on cardiac structural and functional noninvasive parameters. Lipid profiles improved with reduction of serum LDL cholesterol accompanied by significant improvement of LDL/HDL ratio and serum HDL cholesterol after 12 months treatment. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Clinical Endocrinology
volume
61
issue
1
pages
113 - 122
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000222260700016
  • pmid:15212653
  • scopus:3242698600
  • pmid:15212653
ISSN
1365-2265
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2265.2004.02080.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
51271425-b8b3-493e-b747-bde2b00273ac (old id 123973)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:16:39
date last changed
2024-01-23 12:37:29
@article{51271425-b8b3-493e-b747-bde2b00273ac,
  abstract     = {{objectives To assess effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac structure and function, exercise capacity as well as serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency (GHD).<br/><br>
<br/><br>
patients and methods Thirty-one patients (six females, 25 males), aged 60-79 years (mean 68 years) with GHD on stable cortisone and thyroxine substitution were studied. All men with gonadotropin deficiency had testosterone and one woman had oestrogen replacement. They were randomized in a double-blind manner to GH or placebo treatment for 6 months, followed by another 12 months GH (Humatrope, Eli Lilly &amp; Co, Uppsala, Sweden). GH dose was 0·017 mg/kg/week for 1 month and then 0·033 mg/kg/week divided into daily subcutaneous injections at bedtime. Echocardiography, exercise capacity tests and serum lipid measurements were performed at 0, 6, 12 and 18 months.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
results During the 6-month placebo-controlled period there were no significant changes in the placebo group, but in the GH-treated group there was a significant increase in IGF-I to normal levels for age, with median IGF-I from 6·9 to 18·5 nmol/l, increase in resting heart rate and maximal working capacity. During the open GH study, IGF-I increased from 8·7 to 19·2 nmol/l at 6 months and 18·8 nmol/l at 12 months (P &lt;= 0·001). At 6 months, in the open GH study group, a minor decrease in aortic outflow tract integral (VTI) from 21·8 to 20·7 cm (P = 0·031) and an increase in heart rate at rest from 63 to 67 bpm (P = 0·017), heart rate at maximum exercise from 138 to 144 bpm (P = 0·005) and maximum load at exercise from 142 to 151 Watts (P = 0·014) were seen. These changes were temporary and returned at 12 months with no significant difference from baseline values. Left ventricular dimensions and blood pressure showed no significant changes. At 6 months, in the open GH study group, there was a significant decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from 3·7 to 3·4 mmol/l (P = 0·006), a decrease in LDL/HDL ratio from 3·4 to 3·1 (P = 0·036) and a decrease in serum total cholesterol from 5·6 to 5·3 mmol/l (P = 0·036). At 12 months, serum lipids showed same changes with a significant decrease in serum LDL cholesterol (P = 0·0008), in LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0·0005) and in serum total cholesterol (P = 0·049). Serum HDL cholesterol showed no significant change at 6 months, at 12 months a significant increase was seen from 1·2 to 1·4 mmol/l (P = 0·007). There were no significant changes in serum triglycerides.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
conclusions GH substitution to elderly patients with GHD caused only a transient increase in heart rate. At the end of the 12 months there were no significant changes on cardiac noninvasive structural and functional parameters. Maximal working capacity transiently improved. Thus, the therapy was safe without negative effects on cardiac structural and functional noninvasive parameters. Lipid profiles improved with reduction of serum LDL cholesterol accompanied by significant improvement of LDL/HDL ratio and serum HDL cholesterol after 12 months treatment.}},
  author       = {{Elgzyri, Targ and Castenfors, Jan and Hägg, Erik and Backman, Christer and Thorén, Marja and Bramnert, Margareta}},
  issn         = {{1365-2265}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{113--122}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Clinical Endocrinology}},
  title        = {{The effects of GH replacement therapy on cardiac morphology and function, exercise capacity and serum lipids in elderly patients with GH deficiency.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2856914/624040.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2265.2004.02080.x}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}