EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-FATIGUE-SYNDROME - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

The efficacy of growth hormone (GH) therapy was evaluated in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who had peak serum GH levels below 10 mu g/l during stage-controlled sleep. Twenty patients (7 men, 13 w omen; age range, 30-60 years) with CFS were randomized to receive plac ebo or GH therapy, 6.7 mu g/kg/day (0.02 IU/kg/day), for 12 weeks. Fol lowing this double-blind treatment period, the 17 patients remaining i n the study were given GH therapy at the above dose for an open period of 9 months. Mean (+/- SD) serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) increased during GH treatment, from 173 +/- 46 mu g/l to 29 6 +/- 89 mu g/l (P < 0.001); IGF-I SDS values increased from -0.45 +/- 1.14 to +1.43 +/- 1.09 (P < 0.001). Fat-free mass and total body wate r were significantly increased after 12 months of treatment. Although quality of life, as assessed using two different questionnaires, did n ot improve significantly during GH treatment, four patients were able to resume work after a long period of sick leave.