Evaluation of the components of the insulin-like growth factors system in GH-deficient adults: effects of twelve-month rhGH treatment.

The impact of GH deficiency and rhGH replacement therapy on IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS levels has been widely studied. There is less information available on IGF-II levels, the component of the ternary complex poorly dependent on GH. We investigate the components of IGFs system in 36 GHD adults (28M, 8F, age 45 +/- 14 yrs) before and after 12 months of rhGH therapy (mean dose 0.

Long-term monitoring of insulin sensitivity in growth hormone-deficient adults on substitutive recombinant human growth hormone therapy.

Since the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement therapy on glucose metabolism are still a matter of debate, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of long-term rhGH treatment on insulin sensitivity. Simple indices of insulin resistance (IR) and insulin sensitivity (IS), based on fasting glucose and insulin, such as the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI), were used to estimate the degree of IR and IS in 20 normoglycemic patients (11 men and 9 women; mean age, 44 +/- 14 years) with severe adult-onset GH deficiency (GHD). Measurements were determined at baseline and after 1 and 5 years of continuous rhGH therapy.

Recombinant hGH replacement therapy and the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in children with GH deficiency: when should we be concerned about the occurrence of central hypothyroidism?

Objective: Recombinant hGH treatment may alter thyroid hormone metabolism and we have recently reported that 50% of patients with GH deficiency (GHD) due to organic lesions, previously not treated with thyroxine, developed hypothyroidism during treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH). These results prompted us to evaluate the impact of rhGH treatment on thyroid function in children with GHD.

Design: Open study of GH treatment up to 12 months.

Growth hormone therapy in GH-deficient adults: continuous vs alternate-days treatment.

In the present report, we have compared 12 months of rhGH therapy given daily (D) at the beginning and then on alternate days (A) to 20 subjects with severe adult-onset GH deficiency (GHD). Aim of the study was to establish whether the lower frequency injection regimen is as effective as the daily dose. Measurements included: IGF-I levels, body composition (BF%), lipid profile, insulin sensitivity by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI), as well as thyroid function.

Elevated circulating somatostatin levels in acromegaly.

GH increases hypothalamic somatostatin (SS) synthesis and secretion but it is unknown if chronic GH excess, as found in acromegaly, may influence circulating SS levels, that are mainly of enteropancreatic source and affect several gastrointestinal functions, including motility. Circulating SS occurs in several post-translational forms including somatostatin-14 (SS-14), somatostatin-28 (SS-28) and other small peptides. The aim of the present study was to characterize the fasting and postprandial pattern of plasma circulating somatostatin in normal subjects and patients with acromegaly.