title: Liver fat in adults with GH deficiency: comparison to matched controls and the effect of GH replacement.
abstract: Existing data regarding the association between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and liver fat content are conflicting.
  
  
  
  We aimed (i) to assess intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) content in hypopituitary adults with GHD compared to matched controls and (ii) to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) replacement on IHCL content.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional comparison and controlled intervention study.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional comparison: Twenty-two hypopituitary adults with GHD and 44 healthy controls matched for age, BMI, gender and ethnicity. Intervention study: nine GHD patients starting GH replacement (GH Rx group) and nine GHD patients not starting replacement therapy (non-GH Rx group).
  
  
  
  Intervention study: GH replacement for 6 months in the GH Rx group, dosage was titrated to achieve normal IGF-1 levels.
  
  
  
  HCL content determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1) H MRS).
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional Comparison: There was no difference in IHCL content between GHD patients and healthy controls (1·89% (0·30, 4·03) vs 1·14% (0·22, 2·32); P = 0·2), and the prevalence of patients with hepatic steatosis (IHCL of ≥ 5·56%) was similar in the two groups (22·7% vs 15·9%; chi-square probability = 0·4). Intervention study: The change in IHCL content over 6 months did not differ between the GH Rx group and the non-GH Rx group (-0·63 ± 4·53% vs + 0·11 ± 1·46%; P = 0·6).
  
  
  
  In our study, liver fat content and the prevalence of hepatic steatosis did not differ between hypopituitary adults with GHD and matched controls. In GHD patients, GH replacement had no effect on liver fat content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meienberg
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Medicine Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Medicine Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Medicine Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jimmy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: E Louise
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Taylor-Robinson
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Godsland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone