Objective: To evaluate plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in healthy dogs and large-breed dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Animals: 8 dogs with DCM and 8 healthy control dogs of comparable age and body weight.
Procedures: Blood samples for determination of the pulsatile plasma GH profile were collected from all dogs at 10-minute intervals between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Plasma IGF-I concentration was determined in the blood sample collected at 8:00 am.
Results: No significant differences in plasma IGF-I concentrations, basal plasma GH concentration, GH pulse frequency, area under the curve above the zero line and above the baseline for GH, and GH pulse amplitude were found between dogs with DCM and control dogs.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Results did not provide evidence for an association between DCM in dogs and a reduction in plasma concentrations of GH or IGF-I. Therefore, reported positive effects of GH administration are most likely attributable to local effects in the heart.