title: The effects of short term recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on blood rheology in healthy young males.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been shown that growth hormone (GH) exerts regulatory effects on hemorheology and other metabolic functions. GH stimulates the production of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and GH-IGF-I system has profound effects on body fluid status. There are speculations that GH has become widely used as a performance enhancing drug among athletes of various sports. The present study evaluated the possible hemorheological effects of short term administration of human recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) in healthy young males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty young healthy males (27 ± 9) participated in a 29 days study where it was administered either 0.9% sodium chloride or 1 mg of human rhGH from day 1 to day 7. The participants were randomly assigned into either placebo (C) n = 15 or rhGH 1 mg/day (rhGH) group n = 15. This study evaluated plasma fibrinogen levels, red blood cell (RBC) aggregation, deformability and serum IGF-I levels between and within the groups along 29 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in erythrocytes aggregation index post injection (day 8), in accordance to an increase in serum IGF-I.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. sandra.ramos2@student.bond.edu.au
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogerson
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Weatherby
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tajouri
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Marshall-Gradisnik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005340:Fibrinogen