Twenty-Four-Month rhGH Intervention: Insights into Redox Regulation, Vascular Biomarkers, and Body Composition in Adult GHD Patients.

IGF-1 levels increased significantly at both 12 and 24 months of rhGH therapy.

• 15 adults with confirmed severe GHD received rhGH for 24 months
• IGF-1 was measured at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months
• IGF-1 increase was statistically significant at both time points (p < 0.001)
• IGF-1 served as the primary marker of therapeutic response to rhGH replacement

Oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) markedly decreased following 24 months of rhGH therapy.

• The decrease in Ox-LDL was highly statistically significant (p < 0.00001)
• Ox-LDL is a marker of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation
• This reduction indicates improved redox balance over the treatment period
• Measurements were taken at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months

Antioxidant defense markers thioredoxin (Trx) and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) increased with rhGH treatment.

• Both Trx and OGG1 increased with statistical significance (p < 0.05)
• Trx is a key antioxidant protein involved in redox regulation
• OGG1 is a DNA repair enzyme involved in repairing oxidative DNA damage
• These increases indicate enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity following rhGH therapy

Vascular adhesion molecules E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 all declined after 24 months of rhGH therapy, indicating improved endothelial function.

• E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) were all measured at baseline, 12, and 24 months
• Declines in these markers indicate reduced endothelial activation and improved vascular function
• These molecules are established biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation
• Significant correlations were observed between vascular markers and adiposity measures

Lean body mass and bone mineral density (BMD) increased following 24-month rhGH replacement therapy.

• Body composition and BMD were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
• Both lean body mass and BMD showed increases over the 24-month treatment period
• Body fat parameters showed heterogeneous changes rather than a uniform decrease
• Significant correlations were observed between BMD, triglycerides, and IGF-1

Lipid profiles remained unchanged after 24 months of rhGH therapy.

• Lipid profile parameters were measured as part of the metabolic assessment
• No statistically significant changes in lipid profiles were detected over the 24-month period
• This occurred despite significant reductions in Ox-LDL, suggesting oxidative modification of lipids improved independently of total lipid levels
• This finding was noted in the context of unchanged conventional lipid parameters

Significant correlations were found between vascular adhesion markers and adiposity, and between BMD, triglycerides, and IGF-1.

• Correlations between vascular markers (E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and adiposity measures were statistically significant
• Correlations between BMD, triglycerides, and IGF-1 were also identified as significant
• These associations suggest interrelationships among metabolic, vascular, and skeletal outcomes in GHD
• The study sample consisted of 15 adults with confirmed severe GHD

Adult GHD is associated with increased cardiovascular and metabolic risk due to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and unhealthy body composition.

• Long-term systemic effects of rhGH therapy were described as insufficiently defined prior to this study
• The study targeted adults with severe GHD as confirmed by standard diagnostic criteria
• OS and endothelial dysfunction were identified as key mechanistic contributors to cardiovascular risk in GHD
• The study evaluated multiple biomarker categories: oxidative stress, vascular function, body composition, and BMD