Radionuclide angiocardiographic evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of recombinant human IGF-I in normal adults.
OBJECTIVE
IGF-I possesses specific myocardial receptors and is able to promote cardiac remodelling and even inotropic effects in both humans and other animals. In fact, reduced cardiac mass and performance are present in GH deficiency and these alterations are counteracted by recombinant human (rh) GH replacement, restoring IGF-I levels. Recently, the acute administration of 60 microg/kg rhIGF-I has also been reported to be able to improve cardiac performance evaluated by echocardiography or impedance cardiography in normal subjects. The aim of our study was to verify the effects of a subcutaneous low dose of rhIGF-I (20 microg/kg) on cardiac performance in humans.


METHODS
In six healthy male adults (mean+/-S. e.m.: 35.7+/-4.3 years of age), the effects of rhIGF-I on left ventricular function evaluated by radionuclide angiocardiography and on circulating IGF-I, GH, insulin, glucose and catecholamines levels were studied.


RESULTS
Administration of rhIGF-I increased circulating IGF-I (peak at +150 min vs baseline: 330.2+/- 9.6 vs 199. 7+/-8.7 microg/l, P<0.03) to levels which persisted similarly up to +180min. Neither GH nor catecholamine levels were modified by rhIGF-I administration, while insulin and glucose levels showed a slight but significant decrease. Basal left ventricular ejection fraction (61.8+/-2.0%) significantly increased at +180 min after rhIGF-I (65.3+/-2.7%, P<0.03). No change was recorded in mean blood pressure while a non-significant trend towards a reduction of heart rate was present by +120 min.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that even subcutaneous administration of a low dose of rhIGF-I has acute inotropic effects as evaluated by radionuclide angiocardiography in healthy adults.
Bisi
G
G
Division of Nuclear Medicine and Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Podio
V
V
Valetto
M R
MR
Broglio
F
F
Bertuccio
G
G
DEl Rio
G
G
Boghen
M F
MF
Berti
F
F
Muller
E E
EE
Ghigo
E
E
D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D002395:Catecholamines; D007328:Insulin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I