[The growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis. What is its role in the atherosclerotic process?].
GROWTH HORMONE AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS: Adult-onset growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
Other than classical risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, a direct interaction between the activity of the GH/IGF-1 axis and the endothelium also plays a part. It is possible that the modulating effect of IGF-1 on nitric oxide (NO) synthesis is also important, together with the anabolic effect on the myocardiocytes. Substitution of recombinant GH induces rapid reduction in the atherosclerotic plaques, suggesting a direct effect of the GH/IGF axis on the atherosclerotic process. In addition to the acquired GH deficiency, as in non-substituted patients following hypophysectomy, attention has recently been focused on the relative GH deficiency as is seen in obesity and in the course of ageing. PERSPECTIVES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY: Therapeutic intervention in the GH/IGF axis might influence the atherosclerotic process. Study of the GH/IGF axis activity and of its correlation with atherosclerosis opens new perspectives in the understanding of the role of this axis in cardiovascular diseases.
D017668:Age of Onset; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013002:Somatomedins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone