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Growth hormone: a promising treatment for the failing heart?
T M Ng1, J K Kenney, M A Munger
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
Insights
Recombinant growth hormone may improve heart failure symptoms by enhancing cardiac function. However, its overall benefit and safety require further investigation in larger clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Heart failure is often exacerbated by cardiac remodeling and reduced contractility.
- Recombinant growth hormone (rGH) has shown potential in modulating these pathological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of rGH in patients with heart failure.
- To assess the structural and functional effects of rGH on the failing heart.
Main Methods:
- Administration of recombinant growth hormone.
- Short-term and several-month follow-up assessments of cardiac function and structure.
Main Results:
- rGH demonstrated improvements in structural and functional aspects of the failing heart.
- Conflicting clinical results and potential adverse effects raise questions about its universal benefit.
Conclusions:
- The efficacy and safety of rGH for heart failure require further extensive research.
- Optimal patient selection, dosage, and long-term outcomes, including survival, remain undetermined.
- rGH is currently considered an investigational therapy for refractory heart failure pending larger, blinded studies.
Abstract:
Many pathologic processes that accelerate the progression of heart failure, such as cardiac remodeling and impaired contractility, may be modulated by administration of recombinant growth hormone. The agent improves structural and functional aspects of the failing heart both in the short term and after several months of therapy. However, conflicting clinical results cast doubt on whether it has a clear benefit in all of these patients. In addition, growth hormone therapy may be associated with cardiac and noncardiac adverse effects. Many questions must be addressed before its place in heart failure therapy is established. Optimal patient population, dosing regimen, duration of therapy, and effect on patient survival are unknown. Until larger, blinded studies are completed, growth hormone therapy remains an investigational approach to managing refractory heart failure.