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ABSTRACT
Ideas about hormone replacement therapy in hypopituitarism have changed since the discovery of increased atheroscferotic process caused by growth hormone (GH) deficiency.The aim of this study is to see the effect of GH therapy on cardiac functions and metabolic parameters. 18 growth hormone deficient (GHD) patients were enrolled for this prospective study. Echocardiographic studies were performed and blood samples were obtained before and after 3 months of 0.25 U/kg/week GH therapy adjacent to conventional replacement therapy. No change was seen in serum total choiesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose values after the GH therapy. The only echographic parameter that changed significantly was the deceleration time (dec T) which by itself was not meaningful. This study demonstrates that GH therapy does not have any effect on cardiac functions or metabolic parameters which are risk factors for atherosclerosis. Longer treatment periods are planned for confirmation.
Ideas about hormone replacement therapy in hypopituitarism have changed since the discovery of increased atheroscferotic process caused by growth hormone (GH) deficiency.The aim of this study is to see the effect of GH therapy on cardiac functions and metabolic parameters. 18 growth hormone deficient (GHD) patients were enrolled for this prospective study. Echocardiographic studies were performed and blood samples were obtained before and after 3 months of 0.25 U/kg/week GH therapy adjacent to conventional replacement therapy. No change was seen in serum total choiesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose values after the GH therapy. The only echographic parameter that changed significantly was the deceleration time (dec T) which by itself was not meaningful. This study demonstrates that GH therapy does not have any effect on cardiac functions or metabolic parameters which are risk factors for atherosclerosis. Longer treatment periods are planned for confirmation.