Cardiac Changes Associated With Growth Hormone Therapy Among Children Treated With Anthracyclines

Abstract

Objective. The objective was to assess the cardiac effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy. Anthracycline-treated childhood cancer survivors frequently have reduced left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and contractility, and GH therapy may affect these factors. Methods. We examined serial cardiac findings for 34 anthracycline-treated childhood cancer survivors with several years of GH therapy and baseline cardiac z scores similar to those of a comparison group (86 similar cancer survivors without GH therapy). Results. LV contractility was decreased among GH-treated patients before, during, and after GH therapy (−1.08 SD below the age-adjusted population mean before therapy and −1.88 SD 4 years after therapy ceased, with each value depressed below normal). Contractility was higher in the control group than in the GH-treated group, with this difference being nearly significant. The GH-treated children had thinner LV walls before GH therapy (−1.38 SD). Wall thickness increased during GH therapy (from −1.38 SD to −1.09 SD after 3 years of GH therapy), but the effect was lost shortly after GH therapy ended and thickness diminished over time (−1.50 SD at 1 year after therapy and −1.96 SD at 4 years). During GH therapy, the wall thickness for the GH-treated group was greater than that for the control group; however, by 4 years after therapy, there was no difference between the GH-treated group and the control group. Conclusions. GH therapy among anthracycline-treated survivors of childhood cancer increased LV wall thickness, but the effect was lost after therapy was discontinued. The therapy did not affect the progressive LV dysfunction.