Cardiovascular risk of young growth-hormone-deficient adolescents. Differences in growth-hormone-treated and untreated patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether postprandial lipids, coagulation factors and homocysteine levels are abnormal in young growth hormone (GH)-deficient (GHD) adolescents.


METHODS
Fifteen GHD adolescents on GH replacement were studied. Ten untreated GHD adolescents and 15 healthy subjects served as controls. Fasting lipids, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels were measured. Cholesterol and triglycerides were measured 4 h after a high fat meal.


RESULTS
Fasting and postprandial triglycerides and homocysteine levels of untreated GHD patients were increased compared to those of GH-treated GHD subjects and healthy controls; fibrinogen concentrations were elevated in both treated and untreated adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
GHD adolescents present an abnormal fasting and postprandial lipid profile. In addition, the increased fibrinogen and homocysteine levels are suggestive of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors early on in life.
Lanes
Roberto
R
Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, and Divisions of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario de Los Andes, Hospital Dr. Carlos Arvelo and Clinica Avila, Caracas, Venezuela. lanes@telcel.net.ve
Paoli
Mariela
M
Carrillo
Eduardo
E
Villaroel
Omar
O
Palacios
Anselmo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12