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Is growth hormone good for the heart?
B L Silverman1, J R Friedlander
1Division of Endocrinology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Growth hormone (GH) influences heart function, potentially improving cardiac health in deficiency and reversing negative effects in excess. GH therapy is generally safe in children, but long-term cardiac monitoring is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) play roles in myocardial function.
- Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is linked to reduced cardiac function and increased cardiovascular risk.
- GH excess (acromegaly) can lead to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of GH on cardiac structure and function.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential and safety of GH replacement and GH excess treatment.
- To assess GH's impact on cardiac health in children with and without GHD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on GH's cardiac effects.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes in GHD and acromegaly patients.
- Examination of safety data from pediatric GH treatment studies.
Main Results:
- GH replacement therapy in adults with GHD can improve cardiac function and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
- GH excess leads to cardiac hypertrophy, which can be partially reversed by treatments like octreotide.
- GH therapy in children, including those with cardiac conditions, has shown a good safety profile with rare adverse cardiac events.
Conclusions:
- GH significantly impacts cardiac health, with therapeutic benefits in GHD and risks in excess.
- GH therapy is generally safe in pediatric populations, even with pre-existing cardiac abnormalities.
- Long-term surveillance is essential to confirm the sustained safety of GH therapy in children.