Increased arterial intima-media thickness in childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency.

Very little is known about the atherosclerotic risk in patients with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Such data may be relevant to reconstructing the natural course of the cardiovascular abnormalities associated with GHD. To this end, the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and the vascular risk factors were evaluated in 14 childhood-onset GHD patients (age 25 ± 1 yr, BMI 22 ± 0.6 Kg/m2) and in 14 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched control subjects. IMT was greater in GHD patients (0.83 ± 0.06 and 0.81 ± 0.06 mmol/L for the right and left carotid artery) than in controls (0.64 ± 0.03 and 0.64 ± 0.04 mmol/L, P< 0.01 and P < 0.02, respectively). Serum total and lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum total triglycerides did not differ between the two groups. However, a significant increase in low density lipid triglycerides was present in GHD patients (0.27 ± 0.02 mmol/L) compared with controls (0.19 ± 0.01; P = 0.007). No difference was found in plasma fibrinogen and serum Lp(a) levels...