title: Supraphysiological doses of GH induce rapid changes in cardiac morphology and function.
abstract: GH is an agent widely used in sport to improve physical performance and has been proposed as adjunctive therapy in several clinical conditions. However, its short-term effects on the normal human heart are poorly understood. Sixty young normal volunteers (30 males and 30 females) were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All subjects were randomized to receive GH (0.03 or 0.06 mg/kg.d) or placebo. A complete Doppler-echocardiographic examination was performed at baseline and after 4 wk of treatment. Low-dose GH did not significantly affect echocardiographic parameters. In contrast, high-dose GH increased left ventricular mass index by 12% (P < 0.05). The type of growth response was concentric, because left ventricular wall thickness but not diameter increased, leading to a 10% increase of relative wall thickness. These structural changes were associated with functional changes, including a significant increase in cardiac index and a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance; diastolic function was not altered. Fractional shortening and systemic blood pressure were unchanged in the two treatment groups. In conclusion, administration of GH for 4 wk at doses that simulate GH abuse in sport caused a high cardiac output state associated with concentric left ventricular remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Sciences, Federico II University, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cittadini
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Longobardi
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehrnborg
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.forename: Thord
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: Serafino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caidahl
authors.forename: Bengt-Ake
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saccà
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone