[Growth hormone deficiency in patients with chronic heart failure].
BACKGROUND
Experimental and preliminary clinical data in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy show that growth hormone has a positive inotropic effect and contributes to peripheral vasodilatation. However, there is little information about the activity of growth hormone-IGF-1 axis in patients with chronic heart failure.


OBJECTIVE
To measure growth hormone and IGF-1 levels in patients with chronic heart failure.


METHODS
Nine patients, aged 49 to 76 years old, 7 male, were studied. Seven had an idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 2 a coronary heart disease. All had a stable cardiac failure, in functional capacity II or III and were receiving digoxin, furosemide and potassium supplements. Thyroid hormone levels, basal and exercise growth hormone and IGF-1 levels were measured and compared with reference values for American populations. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured with an isotopic technique and nutritional status using anthropometry and indirect calorimetry.


RESULTS
Anthropometric measures, basal and post-prandial oxygen consumption were within normal limits. Thyroid hormone levels were normal. During maximal exercise, growth hormone levels were 2.56 +/- 4.1 ng/ml and IGF-1 levels were 0.56 +/- 0.61 mU/ml. These values were significantly lower than expected for age and sex.


CONCLUSIONS
These patients with chronic cardiac failure have lower than normal growth hormone and IGF-1 levels.
Acevedo
M
M
Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Hospital Clínico, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Corbalán
R
R
Godoy
I
I
Jalil
J
J
Campusano
C
C
Klaassen
J
J
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I