[Clinical study of recombinant human growth hormone for male climacteric syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect and safety of the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the treatment of male climacteric syndrome and to investigate the specificity and sensitivity of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and serum total testosterone as the curative effect index.


METHODS
Forty patients aged 40-75 with male climacteric syndrome were divided into two groups randomly and injected with rhGH 4 IU (Group A) or 8 IU (Group B). The patients were followed up for about 12 weeks after 12-week treatment and then asked the questions of the assessed index of male climacteric syndrome at the 4th, 8th and 12th week of the treatment and 12 weeks after the treatment. The serum IGF-1, total testosterone (TT) and prostatic specific antigen(PSA) were measured before and after the treatment. The data were analysed by the software of SPSS 12.0 for Windows.


RESULTS
The scores of the 4th, 8th and 12th week and the follow-up significantly declined compared with the baseline (P < 0.01), but did not differ significantly between Groups A and B (P > 0.05). After the treatment, serum total testosterone, PSA and prostate volume had no obvious change (P > 0.05), and the IGF-1 level was markedly higher than the baseline and the normal public. No obvious side effect was found during the treatment and follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Small dosage of rhGH(4 IU/week) for 12 weeks can effectively treat male climacteric syndrome. The value of IGF-1 was parallel with the treatment effects. Short-time and small-dosage treatment with rhGH is safe and has little side effect.
Zhu
Xuan-wen
XW
Department of Urology, the First Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China. zhuxw2004@163.com
Liang
Zhong-yan
ZY
Lu
Bo-dong
BD
Zhang
Feng-bin
FB
Shen
Yu
Y
Zhao
Xiao-mei
XM
Zhan
Yu-xian
YX
D047649:Andropause; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013577:Syndrome; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen