Emerging cardiovascular risk factors/markers such as proinflammatory cytokines , C-reactive protein , and adipokines are also increased in GHD patients .
Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have also been reported in GHD .
GH treatment has been shown to improve both traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors and markers .
The GHD population may be considered at high cardiovascular risk , and GH substitution may be expected to bring an added value to patients with hypopituitarism in terms of cardiovascular protection .
CONTEXT GH deficiency ( GHD ) of the adult is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of several traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors that can significantly increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .
It is still an open issue whether GH replacement is able not only to improve cardiovascular risk factors but also to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS In untreated GHD , cardiovascular risk is increased due to abnormal lipid profile ( increased total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , increased triglycerides , and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ) and impaired glucose metabolism .
Adolescents with partial growth hormone (GH) deficiency develop alterations of body composition after GH discontinuation and require follow-up.
It is now a consensus to resume GH treatment in adolescents with severe GH deficiency ( GHD ) at retesting to prevent the occurrence of adult GHD syndrome . However , we do not have any data on the follow-up of adolescents with nonsevere GHD at completion of treatment . This report presents preliminary data from a 1-yr prospect i ve study that includes the first 91 patients retested .  Anthropometric data , IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 levels , glycemia and insulinemia , lipid profile , and body composition using dual x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal computed tomography scan were recorded at completion of GH treatment and 1 yr later . Body composition was significantly different at both evaluations , with increased total body fat and decreased lean body mass in the partial GHD group vs. the normal group . Moreover , these alterations worsened after 1 yr without GH in the partial GHD group , whereas there were no modifications in the normal group . We did not find any metabolic alterations such as elevated triglyceride , total cholesterol , or insulin levels .  Adolescents with reconfirmed partial GHD exhibit alterations in body composition after 1 yr without GH , whereas those retested normal do not . These changes are similar to those described in severe GHD , although less marked , and justify a precise follow-up
Emerging cardiovascular risk factors/markers such as proinflammatory cytokines , C-reactive protein , and adipokines are also increased in GHD patients .
Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have also been reported in GHD .
GH treatment has been shown to improve both traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors and markers .
The GHD population may be considered at high cardiovascular risk , and GH substitution may be expected to bring an added value to patients with hypopituitarism in terms of cardiovascular protection .
CONTEXT GH deficiency ( GHD ) of the adult is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of several traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors that can significantly increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .
It is still an open issue whether GH replacement is able not only to improve cardiovascular risk factors but also to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality .
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS In untreated GHD , cardiovascular risk is increased due to abnormal lipid profile ( increased total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , increased triglycerides , and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ) and impaired glucose metabolism .