Impact of growth hormone (GH) treatment on circulating Nt-proBNP concentrations and on cardiac function in adult GH-deficient patients

Severe adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We have therefore investigated levels of amino terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP), a well established biomarker for cardiac failure, in adult GHD patients before and after GH replacement therapy, and potential parallel variations in cardiac function. Nt-proBNP concentrations were determined at baseline and after GH treatment in two studies including 28 and 12 patients with severe AGHD, respectively. In the second study, a maximal exercise test and a doppler echocardiography were performed to assess cardiac functional parameters. At baseline, Nt-proBNP levels were higher in AGHD patients than in controls (median: 7.8 vs. 3.7 pmol/L; p < 0.01 in study 1; 8.4 vs. 4.1 pmol/L; p < 0.01 in study 2). Following GH treatment, Nt-proBNP levels decreased significantly in both studies. None of the AGHD patients had signs of cardiac dysfunction at baseline and no significant effect of GH replacement therapy was observed on cardiac functional parameters, independent of changes in Nt-proBNP. In conclusion, GH treatment markedly reduces Nt-proBNP concentrations in adult GHD patients without obvious parallel changes in cardiac functional parameters. These results suggest that Nt-proBNP may appear as a biomarker of GH status and GH treatment efficiency.