UMLS:C0020538 - FACTA Search

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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
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In rodents and humans there is a sexually dimorphic pattern of GH secretion that influences the serum concentration of IGF-I. Pattern differences can be identified in children, but it is not known how early this difference is established. We studied the plasma concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-binding protein-3 (BP-3), and GH in cord blood taken from the offspring of 1650 singleton Caucasian pregnancies born at term and related these values to birth weight, length, and head circumference. Pregnancies complicated by preterm delivery, antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes and where cigarette smoking continued were excluded, resulting in a cohort of 987. Cord plasma concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were influenced by factors influencing birth size: gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, maternal height, and parity of the mother. Plasma GH concentrations were inversely related to the plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3; 10.2% of the variability in cord plasma IGF-I concentration and 2.7% for IGFBP-3 was explained by sex of the offspring and parity. None of the factors, apart from maternal height, influenced cord serum IGF-II concentrations (adjusted r(2) = 1%). Sex of the baby, mode of delivery, and parity influenced cord serum GH concentrations (adjusted r(2) = 2.6%). Birth weight, length, and head circumference measurements were greater in males than females (P < 0.001). Mean cord plasma concentrations of IGF-I (males, 66.4 +/- 1.2 micro g/liter; females, 74.5 +/- 1.3 micro g/liter; P < 0.001) and IGFBP-3 (males, 910 +/- 13 micro g/liter; females 978 +/- 13 micro g/liter; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in males than females. Cord plasma GH concentrations were higher in males than females (males, 30.0 +/- 1.2 mU/liter; females, 26.9 +/- 1.1 mU/liter; P = 0.05), but no difference was noted between the sexes for IGF-II (males, 508 +/- 6 micro g/liter; females, 519 +/- 6 micro g/liter; P = NS). After adjustment for gestational age, parity, and maternal height, cord plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 along with sex explained 38.0% of the variability in birth weight, 25.0% in birth length, and 22.7% in head circumference. These data demonstrate that in a group of singleton Caucasian babies born at term, cord plasma IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and GH concentrations relate to birth size, with evidence for sexual dimorphism in the GH-IGF axis.
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PMID:Sexual dimorphism in the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor axis at birth. 1291 59

IGF-I acts on vascular endothelium to activate nitric oxide synthase, thereby promoting vascular health; there is reason to believe that this protection is especially crucial to the cerebral vasculature, helping to ward off thrombotic strokes. IGF-I may also promote the structural integrity of cerebral arteries, thereby offering protection from hemorrhagic stroke. These considerations may help to explain why tallness is associated with low stroke risk, whereas growth hormone deficiency increases stroke risk--and why age-adjusted stroke mortality has been exceptionally high in rural Asians eating quasi-vegan diets, but has been declining steadily in Asia as diets have become progressively higher in animal products. There is good reason to suspect that low-fat vegan diets tend to down-regulate systemic IGF-I activity; this effect would be expected to increase stroke risk in vegans. Furthermore, epidemiology suggests that low serum cholesterol, and possibly also a low dietary intake of saturated fat--both characteristic of those adopting low-fat vegan diets--may also increase stroke risk. Vegans are thus well advised to adopt practical countermeasures to minimize stroke risk--the most definitive of which may be salt restriction. A high potassium intake, aerobic exercise training, whole grains, moderate alcohol consumption, low-dose aspirin, statin or policosanol therapy, green tea, and supplementation with fish oil, taurine, arginine, and B vitamins--as well as pharmacotherapy of hypertension if warranted--are other practical measures for lowering stroke risk. Although low-fat vegan diets may markedly reduce risk for coronary disease, diabetes, and many common types of cancer, an increased risk for stroke may represent an 'Achilles heel'. Nonetheless, vegans have the potential to achieve a truly exceptional 'healthspan' if they face this problem forthrightly by restricting salt intake and taking other practical measures that promote cerebrovascular health.
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PMID:IGF-I activity may be a key determinant of stroke risk--a cautionary lesson for vegans. 1294

Studies of acromegaly have shown a doubling of mortality compared with the general population. With the development of new modalities of treatment, it has become important to identify prognostic factors relating to mortality. Between 1964 and 2000, 208 acromegalic patients were followed for a mean of 13 yr at Auckland Hospital. Treatment was by surgery or radionuclide pituitary implantation, and all except 27 patients received pituitary radiation. Over the duration of the study, 72 patients died at a mean age of 61 +/- 12.8 yr. Those dying were significantly older at diagnosis, had a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, and were more likely to have hypopituitarism. The observed to expected mortality ratio (O/E ratio) fell from 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.6) in those with last follow-up GH greater than 5 microg/liter to 2.5 (1.6-3.8), 1.6 (0.9-3), and 1.1 (0.5-2.1) for those with GH less than 5, less than 2, and less than 1 microg/liter, respectively (P < 0.001). Serum IGF-I, expressed as an SD score, was significantly associated with mortality, with O/E mortality ratios of 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 2.8-4.2) for those with an SD score greater than 2, 1.6 (0.6-2.6) for those with an SD score less than 2 (normal or low levels), and 1.0 (0.1-3) for those with an SD score less than zero. When assessed by multivariate analysis, last serum GH (P < 0.001), age, duration of symptoms before diagnosis (P < 0.03), and hypertension (P < 0.04) were independent predictors of survival. If IGF-I was substituted for GH, then survival was independently related to last IGF-I SD score (P < 0.02), indicating that GH and IGF-I act equivalently as predictors of mortality. These findings indicate that reduction of GH to less than 1 microg/liter or normalization of serum IGF-I reduces mortality to expected levels.
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PMID:Factors influencing mortality in acromegaly. 1553 56

This review focuses on the systemic complications of acromegaly. Mortality in this disease is increased mostly because of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, although currently neoplastic complications have been questioned as a relevant cause of increased risk of death. Biventricular hypertrophy, occurring independently of hypertension and metabolic complications, is the most frequent cardiac complication. Diastolic and systolic dysfunction develops along with disease duration; and other cardiac disorders, such as arrhythmias, valve disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and endothelial dysfunction, are also common in acromegaly. Control of acromegaly by surgery or pharmacotherapy, especially somatostatin analogs, improves cardiovascular morbidity. Respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, and ventilatory dysfunction are also important contributors in increasing mortality and are advantageously benefitted by controlling GH and IGF-I hypersecretion. An increased risk of colonic polyps, which more frequently recur in patients not controlled after treatment, has been reported by several independent investigations, although malignancies in other organs have also been described, but less convincingly than at the gastrointestinal level. Finally, the most important cause of morbidity and functional disability of the disease is arthropathy, which can be reversed at an initial stage, but not if the disease is left untreated for several years.
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PMID:Systemic complications of acromegaly: epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. 1476 29

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) refers to the fetal growth pattern and assumes that at least 2 intrauterine growth assessments are performed, indicating a low growth velocity in the fetus. The term "small for gestational age" (SGA) does not refer to fetal growth but to the size of the infant at birth. Infants with SGA have a low weight and/or length for their gestational age at birth below the 10(th) percentile or -2 SD. Approximately 3-5% of all newborns are born SGA. The etiology of SGA/IUGR is not known. The majority (80-85%) of infants born SGA catch-up within the normal range by 2 years of age. SGA has also been associated with increased prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia at a relatively young age. Most controlled trials have shown a beneficial effect of GH treatment. The growth response seems to be due to the cumulative dose received, parenteral adjusted height standard deviation score (SDS) and bone age pretreatment, baseline overnight peak of GH and IGF-I levels. During GH treatment, children born SGA show a significant increase in fasting levels of insulin and proinsulin and a decrease in insulin sensitivity. Fasting glucose levels significantly increase. All these effects are reversible upon interruption of treatment. However, fasting insulin concentrations as well as glucosylated hemoglobin must be carefully monitored during GH treatment. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the atherogenic index significantly decrease during GH treatment. An acceleration of bone maturation with GH treatment has been reported even though a gain in height SDS for bone age is demonstrated.
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PMID:[Intrauterine growth retardation: diagnostic and therapeutic approach]. 1524 2

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increased in acromegaly. In fact, GH and IGF-I excess induces a specific cardiomyopathy. The early stage of acromegaly is characterized by the hyperkinetic syndrome (high heart rate and increased systolic output). Frequently, concentric biventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction occur in acromegaly, leading to an impaired systolic function ending in heart failure if the disease is untreated or unsuccessfully untreated. Besides, abnormalities of cardiac rhythm and of valves have been also described in acromegaly. The coexistence of other complications, such as arterial hypertension and diabetes, aggravates the acromegalic cardiomyopathy. The suppression of GH/IGF-I following an efficacious therapy could decrease left ventricular mass and improve cardiac function. In conclusion, a careful evaluation of cardiac function, morphology and activity seems to be mandatory in acromegaly.
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PMID:Cardiovascular complications in acromegaly. 1528 42

The presence of a diabetic cardiomyopathy, independent of hypertension and coronary artery disease, is still controversial. This systematic review seeks to evaluate the evidence for the existence of this condition, to clarify the possible mechanisms responsible, and to consider possible therapeutic implications. The existence of a diabetic cardiomyopathy is supported by epidemiological findings showing the association of diabetes with heart failure; clinical studies confirming the association of diabetes with left ventricular dysfunction independent of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and other heart disease; and experimental evidence of myocardial structural and functional changes. The most important mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy are metabolic disturbances (depletion of glucose transporter 4, increased free fatty acids, carnitine deficiency, changes in calcium homeostasis), myocardial fibrosis (association with increases in angiotensin II, IGF-I, and inflammatory cytokines), small vessel disease (microangiopathy, impaired coronary flow reserve, and endothelial dysfunction), cardiac autonomic neuropathy (denervation and alterations in myocardial catecholamine levels), and insulin resistance (hyperinsulinemia and reduced insulin sensitivity). This review presents evidence that diabetes is associated with a cardiomyopathy, independent of comorbid conditions, and that metabolic disturbances, myocardial fibrosis, small vessel disease, cardiac autonomic neuropathy, and insulin resistance may all contribute to the development of diabetic heart disease.
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PMID:Diabetic cardiomyopathy: evidence, mechanisms, and therapeutic implications. 1529 81

Cardiovascular disease is claimed to be one of the most severe complications of acromegaly, contributing significantly to mortality in this disease. In fact, an excess of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) causes a specific derangement of cardiomyocytes, leading to abnormalities in cardiac muscle structure and function, inducing a specific cardiomyopathy. In the early phase of acromegaly the excess of GH and IGF-I induces a hyperkinetic syndrome, characterized by increased heart rate and increased systolic output. Concentric hypertrophy is the most common feature of cardiac involvement in acromegaly, found in more than two thirds of patients at diagnosis. This abnormality is commonly associated with diastolic dysfunction and eventually with impaired systolic function ending in heart failure, if the GH/IGF-I excess is left untreated. In addition, abnormalities of cardiac rhythm and of heart valves have also been described in acromegaly. The coexistence of other complications, such as arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, aggravates acromegalic cardiomyopathy. Successful control of acromegaly induces a decrease in left ventricular mass and an improvement in diastolic function, while the effects of GH/IGF-I suppression on systolic function are more variable. However, since cardiovascular alterations in young patients with short disease duration are milder than in those with longer disease duration, it is likely to be easier to reverse and/or arrest acromegalic cardiomyopathy in young patients with early-onset disease. In conclusion, careful assessments of cardiac function, morphology, and activity are required in patients with acromegaly. An early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment are important in order to reverse acromegalic cardiomyopathy.
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PMID:Cardiac abnormalities in acromegaly. Pathophysiology and implications for management. 1533 Jun 78

This short review summarizes the results of treatments now available in Italy for the management of GH and IGF-I excess due to primary pituitary somatotroph adenoma, which accounts for over 99% of cases of acromegaly. Goals of treatment of acromegaly should now include, in addition to the reduction of tumor bulk and symptomatic relief, the lowering of GH circulating concentrations to below a critical level (2.5 microg/l, "safe" GH), the normalization of serum IGF-I concentrations according to age, improvement (or at least not worsening) of co-morbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, sleep-apnea), the decrease of the risk of premature mortality. Surgery, radiation (fractionated conventional radiotherapy and radiosurgery) and medical treatments with dopamine agonists and somatostatin analogs are the available options that are discussed in detail. The treatment of acromegaly must be tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Age, tumor size and invasiveness, GH concentrations, the patient's general medical conditions, presence and severity of co-morbidities, availability of local resources such as an expert neurosurgeon or gamma-knife radiosurgery, and of course the informed wishes of the patient are all factors that must be taken into account. For most patients the treatment will be multimodal. However, despite criteria and guidelines based on continuously emerging information about the management of acromegaly, patient outcomes are still less than desirable, with 10 to 20% of patients with uncontrolled disease, despite the use of all available therapies. This underscores the need for the quick introduction in clinical practice of the new therapies.
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PMID:Therapy for the syndromes of GH excess. 1549 58

Active acromegaly is associated with significant comorbidity and reduced quality of life. However, the prevalence of comorbidity after long-term remission is not established. Therefore, we assessed the presence of comorbidity in 118 patients in long-term remission after surgery, radiotherapy, and/or somatostatin analog treatment according to strict biochemical criteria of serum GH and IGF-I concentrations and evaluated the impact of comorbidity on quality of life. The mean duration of remission was 12.0 +/- 7.4 yr, and mean actual IGF-I sd scores were 0.6 +/- 1.7. Self-reported joint problems occurred in 77% of patients, hypertension in 37%, a history of myocardial infarction in 9%, and diabetes mellitus in 11%. The presence of joint problems was not related to GH and IGF-I levels, active disease duration, or age. Joint complaints had significant negative impact on quality of life. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction had reduced scores for general health, depression, and fatigue, and diabetes mellitus was associated with reduced scores for anxiety and sleep. In conclusion, acromegalic patients had a high prevalence of joint-related comorbidity and hypertension despite long-term control of GH excess. Especially, joint complaints contributed to a reduced perceived quality of life in these patients.
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PMID:Morbidity after long-term remission for acromegaly: persisting joint-related complaints cause reduced quality of life. 1574 Dec 57

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