Long-term growth hormone treatment in growth hormone deficient adults

Growth hormone treatment in GH-deficient adults has proved beneficial in recent short-term trials, but long-term results have not yet been reported. Thirteen GH-deficient adults (4 females, 9 males; mean (SEM) age 26.4 (1.7) years), who had completed 4 months of GH therapy in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study were followed, for further 16.1 (0.8) months of uninterrupted GH therapy in an open design. A significant mean increase of 1.3 cm in linear height was recorded, whereas body mass index remained unchanged. Mean muscle volume of the thigh, estimated by computerised tomography, increased significantly compared with that of the initial placebo period (p = 0.01), and a slight decrease was recorded in adipose tissue volume of the thigh (p = 0.10) and subscapular skinfold thickness (p = 0.10). Still, the muscle to fat ratio of the thigh was significantly lower compared with that of normal subjects (72.6/27.4 vs 77.9/22.1) (p less than 0.01). The mean isometric strength of the quadriceps muscles increased significantly during long-term GH therapy (p less than 0.01), but remained lower compared with that of normal subjects (1.66 (0.10) vs 2.13 (0.11) Nm/kg body weight). Exercise capacity performed on a bicycle ergometer increased significantly after long-term therapy (p less than 0.05), but still did not reach the values seen in normal subjects (22.5 (3.4) vs 37.4 (4.2) watt.min.kg-1. No adverse reactions were recorded during long-term therapy and hemoglobin A1c remained unchanged. These data suggest that long-term GH replacement therapy in GH-deficient adults has beneficial effects on several physiological features which are subnormal in these patients.