This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/3/1864    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gola, M. Articles by Giustina, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gola, M. Articles by Giustina, A. Related Collections Cardiovascular Endocrinology Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary

Growth Hormone and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Endocrine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Brescia, 25125 Brescia, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Andrea Giustina, Endocrine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Brescia, 2^a Medicina-Spedali Civili, 25125 Brescia, Italy. E-mail: a.giustina{at}libero.it.

The aim of this article is to review the lessons on the relationship between GH and the principal metabolic cardiovascular risk factors that we learned from studies of GH deficiency (GHD) in the adult. The lesson that "organic" GHD has taught us is that primary impairment in the GH/IGF-I axis may lead to a high-risk cardiovascular profile that is partially reversible during GH replacement. Waiting for the definitive demonstration that GH substitution may reduce cardiovascular mortality in these patients, we find that data so far reported are encouraging and indicate in the beneficial cardiovascular effects of GH one of the major factors supporting this type of treatment in hypopituitary GHD adults. Moreover, enough evidence from GHD studies has been produced to suggest a physiological role for the GH/IGF-I axis in the control and regulation of several metabolic cardiovascular risk factors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Giustina, G. Mazziotti, and E. Canalis Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factors, and the Skeleton Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2008; 29(5): 535 - 559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Li, J.-P. del Rincon, L. A. Jahn, Y. Wu, B. Gaylinn, M. O. Thorner, and Z. Liu Growth Hormone Exerts Acute Vascular Effects Independent of Systemic or Muscle Insulin-like Growth Factor I J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1379 - 1385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Martin, D. Gunnell, E. Whitley, A. Nicolaides, M. Griffin, N. Georgiou, G. Davey Smith, S. Ebrahim, and J. M. P. Holly Associations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, IGF Binding Protein (IGFBP)-2 and IGFBP-3 with Ultrasound Measures of Atherosclerosis and Plaque Stability in an Older Adult Population J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1331 - 1338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Jorn Schneider, J. Klotsche, B. Saller, S. Bohler, C. Sievers, D. Pittrow, G. Ruf, W. Marz, W. Erwa, A. M Zeiher, et al. Associations of age-dependent IGF-I SDS with cardiovascular diseases and risk conditions: cross-sectional study in 6773 primary care patients Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2008; 158(2): 153 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. M. Oliveira, M. H. Aguiar-Oliveira, A. D'Oliveira Jr, R. M. C. Pereira, C. R. P. Oliveira, C. T. Farias, J. A. Barreto-Filho, F. D. Anjos-Andrade, C. Marques-Santos, A. C. Nascimento-Junior, et al. Congenital Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency and Atherosclerosis: Effects of GH Replacement in GH-Naive Adults J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2007; 92(12): 4664 - 4670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Schneider, I. Kreitschmann-Andermahr, E. Ghigo, G. K. Stalla, and A. Agha Hypothalamopituitary Dysfunction Following Traumatic Brain Injury and Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review JAMA, September 26, 2007; 298(12): 1429 - 1438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Maison, A.-I. Tropeano, I. Macquin-Mavier, A. Giustina, and P. Chanson Impact of Somatostatin Analogs on the Heart in Acromegaly: A Metaanalysis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2007; 92(5): 1743 - 1747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Rizzo, R. Trepp, K. Berneis, and E. R Christ Atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and low-density lipoprotein size and subclasses in patients with growth hormone deficiency before and after short-term replacement therapy Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2007; 156(3): 361 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Bondanelli, M. R. Ambrosio, A. Onofri, A. Bergonzoni, S. Lavezzi, M. C. Zatelli, D. Valle, N. Basaglia, and E. C. degli Uberti Predictive Value of Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Levels in Ischemic Stroke Outcome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 3928 - 3934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Menezes Oliveira, C. Marques-Santos, J. A. Barreto-Filho, R. Ximenes Filho, A. V. de Oliveira Britto, A. H. Oliveira Souza, C. M. Prado, C. R. Pereira Oliveira, R. M. C. Pereira, T. de Almeida Ribeiro Vicente, et al. Lack of Evidence of Premature Atherosclerosis in Untreated Severe Isolated Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency due to a GH-Releasing Hormone Receptor Mutation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 2093 - 2099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bollerslev, T. Ueland, A. P Jorgensen, K. J Fougner, R. Wergeland, T. Schreiner, and P. Burman Positive effects of a physiological dose of GH on markers of atherogenesis: a placebo-controlled study in patients with adult-onset GH deficiency. Eur. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2006; 154(4): 537 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Colao, C. Di Somma, A. Cuocolo, L. Spinelli, W. Acampa, S. Spiezia, F. Rota, M. C. Savanelli, and G. Lombardi Does a Gender-Related Effect of Growth Hormone (GH) Replacement Exist on Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Cardiac Morphology, and Performance and Atherosclerosis? Results of a Two-Year Open, Prospective Study in Young Adult Men and Women with Severe GH Deficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2005; 90(9): 5146 - 5155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]