Serum lipids, lipoprotein lp(a), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with Turner's syndrome before and during growth hormone and estrogen therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether girls with Turner's syndrome have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease due to alterations in their lipoprotein metabolism.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Private academic hospital.

PATIENT(S): Fifteen untreated girls with Turner's syndrome were studied initially; 11 of these patients were evaluated further while on therapy.

INTERVENTION(S): Serum lipids, lipoprotein lp(a), and plasminogen activator (PA) inhibitor-1 were measured before and during 6 months of either GH or estrogen (E) treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum lipids, lipoprotein lp(a), and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).

RESULT(S): Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein lp(a), and PA inhibitor-1 levels were normal in Turner's syndrome patients compared with age-matched controls; HDL cholesterol was increased. During GH treatment, a significant decrease in total and LDL cholesterol was noted, whereas lipids, lipoprotein(a), and PA inhibitor-1 levels did not change with E therapy.

CONCLUSION(S): The normal lipoproteins of untreated adolescents with Turner's syndrome, as well as the further decrease of total and LDL cholesterol during GH treatment, would seem to indicate that lipoproteins do not increase the cardiovascular risk of these girls.