Cardiac effects of hexarelin in hypopituitary adults

Gianni Bisi, Valerio Podio, Maria Rosa Valetto, Fabio Broglio, Giovanni Bertuccio, Gianluca Aimaretti, Ettore Pelosi, Graziano Del Rio, Giampiero Muccioli, Hui Ong, Muni Franklin Boghen, Romano Deghenghi, Ezio Ghigo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptides possess specific pituitary, hypothalamic, and myocardial receptors. Seven adult male patients with GH deficiency (GHD) (age, mean±S.E.M.: 42.0±4.0 year) were studied by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography after i.v. administration of hexarelin, a peptide GH secretagogue. Data for these patients were compared with those for nine adult male controls (37.0±2.7 year). The GH response to hexarelin was negligible in patients with GHD compared to control subjects (CS) (peak: 1.9±0.9 vs. 45.7±3.6 μg/l, P < 0.001). Basal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with GHD was lower than that in CS (50±1% vs. 63±2%, P < 0.001). Hexarelin administration increased LVEF both in patients with GHD and in CS (peak: 57±2 vs. 70±2, respectively, P < 0.05 vs. baseline) without changing catecholamine levels, mean blood pressure (MBP), or cardiac output in either group. In conclusion, the acute administration of hexarelin exerts a short-lasting positive inotropic effect in humans, probably GH-independent and mediated by specific myocardial receptors for GH secretagogues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)31-38
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmacology
Volume381
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Sept 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Growth hormone (GH) secretagogue
  • Growth hormone deficiency (GHD), adult
  • Haemodynamic
  • Hexarelin
  • Radionuclide imaging
  • Ventricular function, left

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