title: Growth hormone therapy for protein catabolism.
abstract: GH and IGF-I have shown remarkable consistency of effect in a wide range of catabolic conditions. Doses of around 10 IU/m2/day of GH and 80 micrograms/kg/day of IGF-I over short periods of time can improve net protein synthesis and preserve lean body mass. Most studies have reported metabolic endpoints, but favorable clinical effects have included decreased hospital stay and mortality in burns, improved respiratory muscle function in COAD, preserved grip strength post-operatively, and improvements in cardiac and bowel failure. Adverse effects of GH treatment are uncommon and usually related to glycaemic control. GH and IGF-I have differential effects on insulin concentrations--increasing or decreasing concentrations, respectively. The hypoglycaemic effects of IGF-I are dependent on route of administration and are avoided by subcutaneous delivery. Occasional patients have needed to discontinue GH treatment due to hyperglycaemia, although the anabolic action of GH may be partially mediated by increased insulin levels. The co-administration of GH and IGF-I has theoretical advantages by both increasing IGF binding-protein concentrations and balancing glycaemic control. An initial study with combination therapy in calorically-restricted volunteers has shown anabolic effects greater than with either agent alone. This approach requires further study in catabolic patients. There is a need for large, well-designed trials with clinical rather than purely metabolic end-points, and some of these are already underway. Should these studies confirm the early findings, financial considerations will become paramount, although it remains possible that treatment may be self-financing if lengths of hospital admissions are shortened.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019247:HIV Wasting Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011506:Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone