GH replacement in hypopituitarism improves lipid profile and quality of life independently of changes in obesity variables.
OBJECTIVE
GH deficiency (GHD) in adults is characterized by elevated body mass index (BMI), increased waist girth (WG) and increased fat mass (FM). Information about how these indicators of obesity affect the lipid profile and quality of life (QoL) of GHD subjects is scarce. It is also unclear how changes in these indicators brought about by GH replacement influence lipids and QoL.


METHODS
Adult GHD subjects from the Pfizer International Metabolic Database were grouped according to BMI (n=291 with BMI <25 kg/m(2), n=372 with BMI 25-30 kg/m(2), n=279 with BMI >30 kg/m(2)), WG (n=508 with normal WG, n=434 with increased WG) and FM (n=357) and according to changes in these variables after 1 year of GH replacement. Serum IGF-I concentrations, lipid concentrations and QoL using the QoL Assessment of GHD in Adults questionnaire were assessed at baseline and after 1 year of treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline, total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were similarly elevated in the BMI and WG groups, but high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol decreased and triglycerides increased with increasing BMI and WG. QoL was progressively poorer with increasing BMI and WG. After 1 year of GH replacement, total and LDL cholesterol and QoL improved in all BMI, WG and FM groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Variables of obesity adversely affect the already unfavourable lipid profile in GHD subjects by decreasing HDL cholesterol, but do not counteract the positive effect of GH replacement on LDL cholesterol. Similarly, QoL is influenced by obesity, but responds equally well to GH treatment independent of BMI, WG and FM.
Abrams
Pascale
P
Department of Endocrinology, University of Antwerp, 2560 Antwerp, Belgium. pascale.abrams@belgacom.net
Boquete
Hugo
H
Fideleff
Hugo
H
Feldt-Rasmussen
Ulla
U
Jönsson
Peter J
PJ
Koltowska-Häggström
Maria
M
Wilton
Patrick
P
Abs
Roger
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
D008055:Lipids; D019382:Human Growth Hormone