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document
Long-term growth hormone treatment in growth hormone deficient adults . Growth hormone treatment in GH-deficient adults has proved beneficial in recent short-term trials , but long-term results have not yet been reported . Thirteen GH-deficient adults ( 4 females , 9 males ; mean ( SEM ) age 26.4 ( 1.7 ) years ) , who had completed 4 months of GH therapy in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study were followed , for further 16.1 ( 0.8 ) months of uninterrupted GH therapy in an open design . A significant mean increase of 1.3 cm in linear height was recorded , whereas body mass index remained unchanged . Mean muscle volume of the thigh , estimated by computerised tomography , increased significantly compared with that of the initial placebo period ( p = 0.01 ) , and a slight decrease was recorded in adipose tissue volume of the thigh ( p = 0.10 ) and subscapular skinfold thickness ( p = 0.10 ) . Still , the muscle to fat ratio of the thigh was significantly lower compared with that of normal subjects ( 72.6/27.4 vs 77.9/22.1 ) ( p less than 0.01 ) . The mean isometric strength of the quadriceps muscles increased significantly during long-term GH therapy ( p less than 0.01 ) , but remained lower compared with that of normal subjects ( 1.66 ( 0.10 ) vs 2.13 ( 0.11 ) Nm/kg body weight ) . Exercise capacity performed on a bicycle ergometer increased significantly after long-term therapy ( p less than 0.05 ) , but still did not reach the values seen in normal subjects ( 22.5 ( 3.4 ) vs 37.4 ( 4.2 ) watt.min.kg-1 . No adverse reactions were recorded during long-term therapy and hemoglobin A1c remained unchanged . These data suggest that long-term GH replacement therapy in GH-deficient adults has beneficial effects on several physiological features which are subnormal in these patients .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Growth hormone treatment
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Intervention_Pharmacological
GH therapy
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Pharmacological
GH therapy
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Outcome_Physical
linear height
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Outcome_Physical
body mass index
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Outcome_Other
Mean muscle volume of the thigh
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Outcome_Physical
adipose tissue volume of the thigh
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Outcome_Physical
subscapular skinfold thickness
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Outcome_Other
muscle to fat ratio of the thigh
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Outcome_Other
mean isometric strength of the quadriceps
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Outcome_Physical
Exercise capacity
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
adverse reactions
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Outcome_Physical
hemoglobin A1c
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Participant_Condition
growth hormone deficient
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Participant_Age
adults
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Participant_Condition
GH-deficient adults
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Participant_Sample-size
Thirteen
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Participant_Condition
GH-deficient adults
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Participant_Sample-size
4
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Participant_Sex
females
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Participant_Sample-size
9
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Participant_Sex
males
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Participant_Age
26.4
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Participant_Condition
normal