title: GHRH and GH secretagogues: clinical perspectives and safety.
abstract: The diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), as well as the possibility of counteracting somatopause and age-related changes in body composition, structural functions, and metabolism, prompted interest in potential clinical uses of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and GH secretagogues (GHS). GHD often reflects hypothalamic GHRH deficiency and it has been clearly demonstrated that the age-related decline in the function of the GH/IGF-I axis reflects a reduction in hypothalamic function as evidenced by the preservation of the releasable pool of pituitary GH in aged subjects. The effectiveness of recombinant human GH (rhGH) is well established, but it is also recognized that GH replacement does not mimic physiological GH secretion which theoretically would be restored by GHRH and/or GHS. At present, it has been clearly demonstrated that GHRH and/or GHS represent reliable tools for the diagnosis of GHD. On the other hand, neither GHRH nor GHS has been shown to provide effective alternatives to rhGH for the treatment of GHD. Although GHRH and/or GHS represent the most logical approaches for the restoration of the GH/IGF-I axis to a youthful level of activity and for counteracting the somatopause, this hypothesis has never been proven definitively. Conceptually, GHRH replacement would be the most physiological approach and its safety is guaranteed, provided an appropriate dose is used, in order to avoid hyperactivity of the GH/IGF-I axis. However, a long-acting preparation is needed. On the other hand, GHS, e.g., ghrelin analogues, could be considered as a function of their selectivity of action. However, ghrelin has a wide spectrum of endocrine and non-endocrine actions at both central and peripheral levels. Thus, non-selective GHS, although available in orally active forms, could elicit unforeseen side effects. Previous studies with GHRH and/or GHS in aging patients provided encouraging results. However, it still remains to be definitively demonstrated that aged subjects would benefit from chronic treatment with these molecules.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aimaretti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Ginevra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corneli
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rovere
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ragazzoni
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone