Metabolic perturbation in chronic heart failure: time to redress the balance?
Evaluation of: Jankowska EA, Biel B, Majda J et al. : Anabolic deficiency in men with chronic heart failure; prevalence and detrimental impact on survival. Circulation 114, 1829-1837 (2006). The study examined the circulating levels of three anabolic hormones (testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) in 208 men with stable chronic heart failure and 366 healthy controls. A high prevalence of anabolic hormone deficiency (89% deficient in one or more hormone) was found in heart failure patients. Hormone levels were weakly related to disease severity and hormone deficiency independently predicted prognosis (a 3-year survival rate of 27% was found in subjects deficient in all three hormones). Although it cannot be concluded that anabolic hormone deficiency contributes to the disease process - it may simply reflect chronic disease with no physiological consequence - it is highly plausible that deficiency may at least contribute to symptomatology. Further studies evaluating anabolic hormone replacement for symptomatic improvement and possible prognostic benefit are warranted.
Royal Brompton Hospital, Cardiac Medicine, Sydney Street, London SW36NP, UK. pjpugh10@hotmail.com
Peter
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J Pugh