Hypopituitarism and Growth Hormone Deficiency and Vascular Disease

Abstract

Patients with hypopituitarism are at increased cardiovascular risk; the specific role of several factors associated with this hypopituitarism, such as growth hormone deficiency (GHD), excess substitution with glucocorticoids, or other unphysiological hormone substitutions, or cranial irradiation on this increased risk is currently unclear. However, two metanalysis and several cross-sectional studies on cardiovascular risk factors give indirect support for the hypothesis that GHD plays an important role for the development of vascular diseases, and this risk does not increase and even appears to improve, although not all potential cardiovascular risk factors respond in the same direction, after substitution with rhGH. This therapy in adults with GHD appears to be safe, but should be considered carefully in each patient to adequately evaluate all risks and benefits, since the benefits of long-term treatment still are a matter of on-going research.