Increased serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations after growth hormone (GH) treatment in patients with isolated GH deficiency.

Abstract

Fourteen post-pubertal subjects (11 male, 3 female) with isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency were treated with a low dose (0.125 U/kg for the first 4 weeks and thereafter 0.25 U/kg/week) daily sc GH injection for 1 year. Fasting blood samples were collected at entry into the study and subsequently at 3 monthly intervals for estimation of serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. Serum Lp(a) increased progressively during the treatment period (by analysis of variance) and was 41% higher at 12 months (P < 0.02) despite the fact that five patients showed little or no change. There was no significant change in any of the other lipid fractions. These observations are of concern as Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and should introduce a cautionary note into the enthusiastic efforts to offer GH replacement to all GH deficient adults.