CLINICAL TRIAL: GH ADMINISTRATION ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN SUBJECTS W/GROWTH HO

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. With the accumulation of evidence on the beneficial effects of GH replacement, this therapy is becoming standard of care in all subjects with GH deficiency (GHD), except in this acromegaly subgroup where GH has been traditionally withheld. The GHD syndrome is manifested by an increase in cardiovascular risk, which is potentially reversible with GH therapy. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in acromegalics. Although cure of acromegaly is associated with a reduction in mortality attributable to GH excess, GHD may be a contributing factor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this group of patients, as it is in patients with other pituitary tumors. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of physiologic growth hormone (GH) replacement on cardiovascular risk markers, cardiac autonomic function, arterial distensibility, body composition, and quality of life in men and women with GH deficiency following treatment of acromegaly. We will compare GH sufficient with GH deficient cured acromegalics in a cross-sectional study. We hypothesize that this population will represent a newly identified group of patients for whom GH replacement will be of benefit.