Growth Hormone Replacement and Cardiac Function in the Growth Hormone Deficient Adults

Abstract

The production of biosynthetic human growth hormone has opened the possibility for growth hormone (GH) substitution of adult growth hormone deficient (GHD) patients, and this treatment has been shown to improve muscle strength, exercise capacity and psychosocial well being in these patients (1,2). GH exerts significant effects on cardiac function and structure and both Gil insufficiency and excess seem to be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (3,4). Therefore, it is of major clinical interest to examine the short-and long-term effect on the heart of GH substitution. The present chapter will review the literature on the cardiac effects of GH in hearts without prior GH deficiency, cardiac function in GHD patients and the cardiac effects of GH treatment in GHD patients. Here the latest long-term follow-up data of the Aarhus study will be presented.