Context: Survivors of childhood-onset (CO) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with prophylactic cranial radiotherapy often exhibit GH deficiency (GHD), which is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac dysfunction.
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of GH replacement on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac function in former CO ALL patients.
Design: Eighteen former CO ALL patients (aged 19-32 yr) treated with cranial radiotherapy (18-24 Gy) and chemotherapy and with confirmed GHD were studied at baseline and after 12 (n = 18) and 24 months (n = 13) of GH treatment (median 0.5 mg/d). A group of 18 age- and sex-matched subjects served as controls.
Results: After 12 months of GH treatment, a significant decrease in serum leptin (P = 0.002), leptin per kilogram fat mass (FM) (P = 0.01), plasma glucose (P = 0.004), FM (P = 0.002), and hip (P = 0.04) and waist (P = 0.02) circumference and increased muscle mass (P = 0.004) were recorded in the patients. Before GH treatment six patients had a metabolic syndrome, but after 12 months only one had it and after 24 months none. After 24 months of GH treatment, an increase in left ventricular mass index (P = 0.06) and significant improvements in cardiac systolic function, measured as fractional shortening (P = 0.03) and ejection fraction (P = 0.03), were recorded.
Conclusions: Improvement in cardiac systolic function and reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome were recorded after 2 yr of GH replacement in former CO ALL patients with GHD. Long-term follow-up is highly warranted.