Growth hormone (GH) therapy in GH-deficient patients, the plasma factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex, and capillary fragility. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.
It has been suggested that growth hormone (GH) plays a role in the regulation of Factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex and other parameters associated with haemostasis and vascular integrity. However, limited information is available on these features in GH-deficient patients. We therefore examined, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, the effects of 4 months' replacement therapy with biosynthetic human GH in 22 GH-deficient adults on circulating haemostatic parameters and capillary fragility. A non-significant increase in the plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (p = 0.09), Factor VIII antigen (p = 0.6), fibrinogen (p = 0.4) and fibronectin (p = 0.2) was observed at the end of the GH treatment period along with a non-significant decrease in tissue-type plasminogen activator (p = 0.2). Capillary fragility tended to decrease during GH therapy (p = 0.2). All variables remained within the reference range following both the placebo and the GH treatment period. It is concluded that GH-deficient patients display normal levels of the haemostasis parameters recorded, and that 4 months of GH therapy in a conventional replacement dose does not significantly affect these values.
Jørgensen
J O
JO
Second University Clinic of Internal Medicine, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Denmark.
Pedersen
S A
SA
Ingerslev
J
J
Møller
J
J
Skakkebaek
N E
NE
Christiansen
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002198:Capillary Fragility; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D007328:Insulin; D010919:Placebos; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005169:Factor VIII; D013006:Growth Hormone