A placebo-controlled study of growth hormone in patients with congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
Experimental data in heart failure models and an open trial of seven patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy have suggested beneficial effects of growth hormone on cardiac function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate growth hormone effects on cardiac function in a placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
Twenty two patients with congestive heart failure of different aetiologies in NYHA II and III and an echocardiographic ejection fraction <0.45 were studied in a 3 month double-blind placebo-controlled study with growth hormone added to optimal heart failure therapy. Patients received either placebo (n=11) or recombinant human growth hormone (n=11) in an initial dose of 0.1 IU x kg(-1) week(-1) for 1 week, and thereafter 0.25 IU x kg(-1) week(-1) for the rest of the treatment period. Cardiac function was assessed by equilibrium radionuclide angiography and Doppler echocardiography. Functional capacity was evaluated by computerized bicycle exercise electrocardiography.


RESULTS
Recombinant human growth hormone had no significant effect on systolic or diastolic cardiac function, exercise capacity or neuroendocrine activation. In addition, there was no overall improvement in functional class or dyspnoea grade. Insulin-like growth factor-I significantly increased demonstrating that the growth hormone had an endocrine effect.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first double-blind and placebo-controlled study of the administration, over 3 months, of recombinant human growth hormone in patients with congestive heart failure of different aetiologies. The treatment was safe and without serious side effects. However, no beneficial effects on cardiac function or structure could be detected.
Isgaard
J
J
Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Bergh
C H
CH
Caidahl
K
K
Lomsky
M
M
Hjalmarson
A
A
Bengtsson
B A
BA
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone