[The adult patient with a congenital GH deficiency. Cholesterol-lowering effects of therapy with biosynthetic GH].

In adults with childhood onset GH deficiency, serum total and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively), while serum HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those recorded in an age and sex matched control group. These biochemical alterations determined the presence of a marked increase of coronary risk indexes (total/HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol) which were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in controls. Serum VLDL and triglycerides levels were similar to those found in controls. After recombinant GH treatment (0.5 IU/kg/week, sc), serum total and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly reduced, becoming similar to those recorded in controls after six months' therapy. Serum HDL cholesterol levels, which were slightly reduced after 3 months, significantly increased after 6 months of GH treatment, becoming similar to those recorded in controls; no significant modifications were observed in VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels during treatment. The coronary risk indexes fell during GH treatment, but still remained higher than in controls. On the basis of these promising data, it is tempting to speculate that more prolonged GH treatment might be able to ameliorate the risk for cardiovascular diseases in adults with GH deficiency. Although further additional studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm these preliminary observations, adults with GH deficiency should be recommended to take into great consideration the control of other risk factors involved in the genesis of coronary disease.