Endothelial dysfunction in GH-deficient adults correlates inversely with LDL-cholesterol, suggesting LDL may play an aetiological role in their excess cardiovascular risk.
Endothelial dysfunction is present in GH deficient adults prior to the onset of overt atherosclerotic disease. The similar glucose yet elevated fasting insulin levels imply a state of relative insulin insensitivity. The strong inverse correlation between endothelial dysfunction and LDL-cholesterol suggests a possible aetiological role for LDL-cholesterol in the pathogenesis of any excess cardiovascular risk associated with adult hypopituitarism.
Evans et al. (Thu,) studied this question.