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Influence of growth hormone on cardiovascular health and disease

Annamaria Colao1, Carolina Di Somma, Giovanni Vitale

  • 1Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. colao@unina.it

Treatments in Endocrinology
|June 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and excess impact heart health, potentially reducing life expectancy. GH therapy may reverse some cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with GH deficiency.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) play roles in cardiac development.
  • GH deficiency (GHD) is linked to cardiac structural and functional abnormalities, increasing cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of GH on cardiovascular function.
  • To explore the potential of GH therapy in managing cardiovascular complications associated with GHD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental and clinical studies on GH, IGF-1, and cardiovascular health.
  • Analysis of data on cardiac structure, function, and vascular changes in GHD patients.
  • Evaluation of the effects of somatropin (recombinant GH) therapy.

Main Results:

  • GHD is associated with reduced cardiac mass, impaired diastolic filling, and diminished exercise response.
  • GHD patients exhibit increased vascular intima-media thickness and atheromatous plaques, elevating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk.
  • Somatropin therapy has shown potential in partially reversing cardiac abnormalities and improving hemodynamics in GHD patients and heart failure.

Conclusions:

  • GH plays a significant role in cardiovascular health.
  • Somatropin therapy offers promising therapeutic perspectives for cardiovascular complications in GHD.
  • Further extensive studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore GH secretagogues in heart failure.

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