Endocrine Abstracts

One study examining the lipid profile of adults with partial GH deficiency (GH insufficiency, GHI) suggested they are dyslipidaemic. We defined GH status using two stimulation tests, the ITT and AST, in to patients with severe GHD (pGH < 3ng/ml, n = 30) or GHI (pGH 3 - 7ng/ml, n = 24). Thirty age and gender matched controls were studied.

There were no differences in age between the GHD, GHI, and control subjects (30.9 vs 31.5 vs 34.2 yrs). IGF-I levels were significantly lower in the GHD adults (373 +/- 123ng/ml) than the GHI or control subjects (P = 0.006, P < 0.001 respectively), and were lower in the GHI subjects (295 +/- 104ng/ml) compared with control subjects (373 +/- 123ng/ml, P = 0.016). TC levels were 5.17 +/- 1.36, 4.76 +/- 1.04, & 4.44 +/- 0.84 mmol/l respectively. LDL levels paralleled TC levels (3.03 +/- 0.99, 2.71 +/- 0.70, & 2.49 +/- 0.76 mmol/l respectively). TC and LDL levels in the GHD subjects were significantly higher than in control subjects (P = 0.014 & P = 0.021). TG levels were also significantly higher in the GHD adults compared with controls (1.78 +/- 1.10 & 1.19 +/- 0.34mmol/l; P = 0.022). TC, LDL, and TG levels in the GHI adults were intermediate between those values of the GHD & control groups. HDL cholesterol levels were not significantly different between the three groups (1.33 +/- 0.38, 1.31 +/- 0.22, & 1.40 +/- 0.27mmol/l). As expected the variation in apoB and apoA levels between the three study groups correlated with LDL and HDL levels respectively. No difference in Lp(a) levels were observed between study groups.

In keeping with previous data in GHD adults, these patients had elevated TC, LDL (~0.5mmol/l), apoB, and TG levels. Lipid levels in GHI adults were intermediate between GHD adults and control subjects for all parameters measured, consistent with their lesser degree of GH deficiency.