Cardiovascular Risk in Growth Hormone Deficiency: Beneficial Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of developing adverse cardiovascular events and with reduced life expectancy. Cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities have so far been evaluated only in a small number of children with GHD and adolescents. In this article we review these abnormalities and their underlying mechanisms and discuss the beneficial effect of growth hormone treatment in subjects with GHD.

Keywords: Cardiac mass and function; Cardiovascular risk; Carotid intima-media thickness; Endothelial dysfunction; Growth hormone deficiency; Lipoprotein abnormalities; Vascular reactivity; Visceral adiposity.