title: Epicardial fat thickness significantly decreases after short-term growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is characterized by increased visceral fat accumulation. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is a new marker of visceral adiposity. Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether epicardial fat thickness can significantly change and therefore serve as a marker of visceral fat reduction after short-term rhGH replacement therapy in patients with adult-onset GHD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness was measured in 18 patients (10 M, 8 F, age 48 ± 11.8 yrs, BMI 29 ± 5.9 kg/m(2)) with adult-onset GHD, at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of rhGH therapy and in 18 healthy matched controls, at baseline. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness, conventional anthropometric and metabolic parameters, body fat percentage and quality of life were also evaluated. Epicardial fat thickness in adult GHD patients was higher than in controls (9.8 ± 2.8 vs 8 ± 3 mm, p < 0.05). Epicardial fat thickness significantly decreased after 6-months of rhGH replacement therapy (from 9.8 ± 2.8 to 7.0 ± 2.3 mm, P < 0.01, i.e. -29% from baseline). After 12 months of rhGH replacement therapy, epicardial fat thickness showed a further significant decrease (from 7.0 ± 2.3 to 5.9 ± 3.1 mm, P < 0.01, i.e. -40% from baseline). No significant changes in BMI or waist circumference after 6 or 12 months of rhGH therapy were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness may represent a valuable and easy marker of visceral fat and visceral fat changes during rhGH replacement treatment in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency.
authors: Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ferrante
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Malavazos
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Giavoli
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ermetici
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Coman
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bergamaschi
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Profka
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Briganti
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Ronchi
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Passeri
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Corbetta
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Lania
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Spada
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Iacobellis
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Ambrosi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Beck-Peccoz
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I