THE EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE ON IDIOPATHIC DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Objective- Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is currently an important cause of mortality and morbidity due to chronic heart failure. The aim of our study was to assess whether there could be any clinical and /or echocardiographic improvement in patients with IDCM who had undergone treatment of recombinant human growth hormone (GH). Methods- Fourteen patients with IDCM and moderate heart failure (e.g. New York Heart Association functional class II-III) were studied at base line, immediately and 3-months after treatment with GH. The study was a double-blind clinical trial. Traditional treatment (e.g. digoxin, ACEI, B-blocker and diuretics) was continued during the study. Cardiac performance was evaluated with clinical and echocardiographic examinations. Results- In spite of statistical improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)(mean ±SD from 35.6±5.9% at the base line of this study to 39.6% ±6.7% immediately and 39.3%±7.9% three months after treatment, p value <0.05), other data of the clinical and echocardiographic findings were not significantly different between base line and post-treatment. Conclusion- We conclude that 3-months of GH therapy in patients with idiop thic dilated cardiomyopathy had little beneficial effects on cardiac mass and performance (Iranian Heart Journal 2003; 4 (4):68-71).