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Growth hormone and the heart
L Saccà1, A Cittadini, S Fazio
1Department of Internal Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
Endocrine Reviews
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Growth hormone (GH) impacts heart function, causing cardiac issues in acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Treatment can improve cardiac performance and reverse some structural changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) plays a direct role in myocardial growth and function.
- Laboratory models demonstrate GH/IGF-I's influence on contractile protein expression and myocyte hypertrophy.
- GH affects cardiac contractility and myosin isoform expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain cardiac abnormalities in clinical settings of excessive or deficient GH production.
- To investigate the impact of GH excess (acromegaly) and deficiency (GHD) on cardiac structure and function.
- To assess the potential for cardiac recovery following GH normalization.
Main Methods:
- Review of laboratory models and clinical observations in acromegaly and GHD.
- Analysis of cardiac function and structure in patients with altered GH levels.
- Evaluation of treatment effects, including GH suppression (octreotide) and replacement therapy (hrGH).
Main Results:
- Acromegaly leads to cardiac hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and eventually heart failure.
- GH deficiency (GHD) results in reduced ventricular mass and impaired cardiac performance (hypokinetic syndrome).
- GH suppression shows regression of hypertrophy and improved cardiac function; GH replacement therapy improves GHD-related cardiac dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- GH significantly influences cardiac morphology and performance.
- Cardiac abnormalities in acromegaly and GHD are treatable, with potential for functional and structural improvement.
- Early intervention in GHD may be crucial for preventing long-term cardiac consequences.