title: Insulin-like growth factor I: an attractive option for chronic heart failure?
abstract: Chronic congestive heart failure is a syndrome with a poor prognosis. Currently, the only therapy providing the possibility of long term survival is heart transplantation. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies continue to be investigated. One such new approach may be the application of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. IGF-1 has both acute and long term cardiovascular effects. Acute administration of IGF-1 resulted in a reduction in afterload and positive inotropic effects in patients with heart failure. In vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that IGF-1 can stimulate myofibril formation. In addition, IGF-1 administration has beneficial metabolic effects. The benefits of prolonged IGF-1 therapy have yet to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. marc.donath@dim.usz.ch
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Donath
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zapf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I