Influence of growth hormone on whole body and regional soft tissue composition in adult patients on hemodialysis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

Six months of GH therapy to patients with chronic renal failure resulted in marked changes of the soft tissue with an increase in LBM, and reduction of FM particularly at the trunk. The data imply that GH-induced changes in body composition are maintained with long-term therapy. Very few side-effects of GH treatment were observed, and no serious ones were encountered, though the dosage were 2 to 3 times higher than the one given to GH-insufficient, non-uremic persons, and the serum IGF-I concentrations during treatment equalized those seen in acromegalia. This indicates the existence of a reduced biological effect of GH and IGF-I in uremic persons.