Growth hormone (GH) and atherosclerosis: changes in morphology and function of major arteries during GH treatment.
Patients with hypopituitarism have increased carotid artery intima-media thickness and reduced arterial distensibility. The effect of 2 years of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy on these parameters was studied in 11 GH-deficient men (age range, 24-49 years) with hypopituitarism and compared with 12 healthy, age-matched men with no evidence of pituitary or vascular disease. Before treatment the intima-media of the common carotid arteries and the carotid bifurcations were significantly thicker in patients (P < 0.001) than in the control group. Treatment with GH normalized the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery within 6 months and of the carotid bifurcation within 3 months. The changes in intima-media thickness of the carotid artery were negatively correlated with changes in serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I during treatment. There was a significant improvement in flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery at 3 months, which was sustained at 6, 18 and 24 months of GH treatment (P < 0.05). Thus, GH replacement therapy in GH-deficient men reverses early morphological and functional atherosclerotic changes in major arteries, and may reduce rates of vascular morbidity and mortality.
Pfeifer
M
M
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Verhovec
R
R
Zizek
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D018056:Hemorheology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014664:Vasodilation
D019382:Human Growth Hormone