Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is an heterogeneous clinical entity characterized by increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, alterations in body composition, osteoporosis and impaired quality of life. In order to characterize higher risk subpopulations we studied 77 patients with AGHD, 35 with childhood onset (AGHD-CO): CA 18-44 yr.; 13 females and 22 males, and 42 with adult onset (AGHD-AO): CA 25-70 yr.; 22 females and 20 males. IGF-I, lipid profile, glycemia and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured. Cardiological evaluation: blood pressure, electrocardiogram, ergometry and 2D echocardiogram with mitral Doppler, evaluation of diastolic function (A/E waves ratio and deceleration time), systolic function (ejection and shortening fractions) and Cardiac Mass Index (CMI). The Body Mass Index and waist circumference were recorded. Total body composition and bone mineral density were evaluated by densitometry, and the following bone markers were measured: osteocalcin, bonespecific alkaline phosphatase, carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen, Pyridinoline and Deoxipyridinoline. The subset of females with AGHD-AO had higher levels of total cholesterol: 240 mg/dl (156-351) (p< 0.005), LDL: 140 mg/dl (62-262) (p< 0.04) and of total cholesterol / HDL: 4.04 (3.12-12.7) (p< 0.04); while females with AGHD-CO had a decreased CMI: 62 g/m2 (53-107) (p< 0.01), lower A/E waves ratio: 0.56 (0.39-0.72) (p< 0.01) and lower deceleration time: 164 msec. (135-210) (p< 0.01). The subset of males with AGHD-AO had a greater waist circumference: 98 cm (83-128) (p< 0.03) and males with AGHD-CO had a lower shortening fraction: 41% (30-49) (p< 0.006) and lower deceleration time: 153.5 msec. (127-230) (p< 0.03). In both genders, the bone mineral content was lower in patients with AGHD-CO (females p< 0.02, males: p< 0.0008). Our findings confirm the differences in impairment in AGHD patients, which are mainly dependent on gender and the time of onset of the deficiency, and thus demonstrate the heterogeneity of the syndrome.