Growth hormone therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: preliminary observations of a pilot study

The effects of growth hormone in six patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were evaluated in this study. The patients were studied at baseline, after six months of therapy and at six months after stopping the treatment. They were given two units of growth hormone on alternate days by subcutaneous injection. There was marked improvement in the symptomatic class with treatment (NYHA class 3.4 +/- 0.5 vs 2 +/- 0; p = 0.04). There was also significant increase in the inteventricular septal wall thickness (6.4 +/- 1.5 mm vs 10.4 +/- 0.5 mm; p = 0.04). Left ventricular posterior wall thickness also increased significantly (7.2 +/- 1.3 mm vs 10.2 +/- 0.8 mm; p = 0.04). These changes were partially reversed by the end of six months of treatment but the symptomatic status of these patients was better than before. The administration of growth hormone for six months in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy results in significant improvement in the symptomatic class, which could be considered as an additional line of management in patients with heart failure in dilated cardiomyopathy.