GROWTH-HORMONE AND INSULIN-LIKE-GROWTH-FACTOR-1 - NEW ENDOCRINE THERAPIES IN CARDIOLOGY

The hormones growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF -1) play a dominant role in whole body growth and metabolism. This is reflected in the use of human GH (hGH) in GH-deficient children to sti mulate growth and in GH-deficient adults to reduce visceral fat mass. Recent data suggest that hGH may improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure, so there is current interest in methods to raise G H-IGF levels, including the testing of agents that release GH from the pituitary, administering IGF-1, and most recently, long-acting formul ations of hGH. It is hoped that this ongoing integration of cardiology and endocrinology will uncover the pathophysiology of some cardiovasc ular diseases and yield new treatments based on the hormones of the GH axis. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.