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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
Published on: January 7, 2016
The influence of growth hormone replacement on heart rate variability in adults with growth hormone deficiency
K S Leong1, P Mann, M Wallymahmed
1Department of Medicine, Clinical Sciences Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK.
Insights
Growth hormone (GH) deficiency negatively impacts cardiac autonomic tone, as indicated by heart rate variability (HRV) abnormalities. GH treatment shows potential for correcting these issues, particularly in the very low frequency power band.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is linked to increased cardiovascular risks and altered heart rate variability (HRV).
- HRV abnormalities in GH deficiency (GHD) resemble those seen in post-myocardial infarction patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if GH replacement therapy normalizes cardiac autonomic tone in adult GHD patients.
- To assess changes in HRV parameters following GH treatment initiation.
Main Methods:
- HRV was measured using 15-minute ECG recordings in untreated GHD patients, long-term GH-treated GHD patients, and healthy controls.
- Untreated GHD patients received GH therapy, with HRV reassessed at 3 and 6 months.
Main Results:
- Untreated GHD patients exhibited abnormal HRV patterns, including increased nHF, reduced nLF, and decreased nVLF power, along with a lower LF/HF ratio compared to controls.
- GH replacement in previously untreated patients led to a significant increase in nVLF power after 3 months, sustained at 6 months.
- HRV profiles of patients on long-term GH replacement were comparable to healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac autonomic system abnormalities in GHD patients appear correctable with GH treatment.
- Further long-term studies are needed to determine the timeline for improvements in other HRV frequency bands.
Objective:
Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Abnormalities in heart rate variability (HRV), a surrogate marker of cardiac autonomic tone, have also been found in untreated growth hormone deficient (GHD) patients. Similar abnormalities have been found in patients with complications postmyocardial infarction.
Design And Measurements:
This study was designed to investigate whether GH treatment leads to normalization of cardiac autonomic tone. HRV measurements were obtained from 15 minute resting ECG recordings in 11 untreated adult GHD patients (7 females; mean age 39.2 years), 10 GHD patients (6 females; mean age 46.2 years) reCENving GH replacement (mean duration, 52.7 months) and 12 healthy controls (7 females; mean age 44.6 +/- 2.9 years) who were all of similar age, weight and BMI. The untreated GHD patients were then commenced on GH and HRV measurements repeated after 3 and 6 months of treatment.
Results:
In accord with our previous findings, HRV analysis using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) showed a distinct pattern of abnormality in GHD patients compared with controls. Specifically, there was an increase in nHF power (P = 0.04) and a reduction in nLF power (P = 0.04) (representing parasympathetic and sympathetic activity, respectively), a reduction in nVLF power (P = 0.03) and a 50% reduction in LF/HF ratio (P = 0.02) (a measure of sympathovagal balance) in GHD patients when compared with controls. HRV results in patients who have been on long-term GH replacement were indistinguishable from controls. After 3 months GH replacement in the untreated GHD patient group, nVLF power had increased by 28% (P = 0.03) at 3 months and this was sustained at 6 months. However, no significant changes in LF and HF power were seen.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that abnormalities of the cardiac autonomic system in GHD patients may be correctable. Longer duration of prospective follow-up will be required to determine at what time point improvements in the other frequency bands occur.
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