Growth hormone corrects vascular dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that growth hormone (GH) administration to patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) corrects their vascular dysfunction.


BACKGROUND
Endothelial dysfunction is a prominent feature of CHF. Recent evidence indicates that GH plays a role in vascular reactivity.


METHODS
We studied vascular reactivity in 16 patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class II to III) before and after three months of GH (4 IU subcutaneously every other day) or placebo administration in a randomized, double-blind trial. We measured forearm blood flow (FBF) by strain-gauge plethysmography during intrabrachial, graded infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (NP). We also measured the forearm balance of nitrite and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) before and during ACh infusion. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured by breath-to-breath respiratory gas analysis.


RESULTS
Before treatment, the response of FBF to ACh was flat (p = NS). Growth hormone, but not placebo, greatly improved this response (p = 0.03) and, concomitantly, increased the forearm release of nitrite and cGMP (p < 0.05). Growth hormone also potentiated the FBF response to NP (p = 0.013). Growth hormone interacted with ACh response (p = 0.01) but not with the response to NP (p = NS). Accordingly, GH enhanced the slope of the dose-response curve to ACh (p < 0.05) but not to NP. The VO2max increased significantly after GH treatment (20 +/- 2 and 26 +/- 2 ml x Kg(-1) x min(-1) before and after GH treatment, respectively, p < 0.05) but not after placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
A three-month treatment with GH corrected endothelial dysfunction and improved non-endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with CHF. The data highlight the potential role of GH in the progression of congestive heart failure.
Napoli
Raffaele
R
Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Sciences, University Federico II School of Medicine, Naples, Italy.
Guardasole
Vincenzo
V
Matarazzo
Margherita
M
Palmieri
Emiliano A
EA
Oliviero
Ugo
U
Fazio
Serafino
S
Saccà
Luigi
L
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000109:Acetylcholine