BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between serum @entity442 concentration and the incidence of side effects of therapy with recombinant @entity1 growth hormone (rhGH) and recombinant @entity1 insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I). METHODS: Thirteen high-risk, undernourished elderly males were started on a 15-day course of rhGH and rhIGF-I by subcutaneous injection. The dose of rhGH was held constant at .0125 mg/kg/day, whereas the dose of rhIGF-I was increased in a stepwise fashion from 10 micrograms/kg to the targeted dose of 40 micrograms/kg twice a day. RESULTS: Nine subjects completed the protocol and reached the full target dose of both hormones. @entity6112 , @entity247 , and @entity551 were the most common complications. The hormone injections increased the serum concentration of @entity442 (from 72.7 +/- 40.9 to 483.7 +/- 251.4 @entity2231 g/ml, p = .001) and @entity2301 (from 1.82 +/- 0.66 to 2.72 +/- 1.18 mg/L, p = .012), and decreased serum albumin (from 34.3 +/- 5.5 to 31.4 +/- 4.6 g/L, p = .009). The magnitude of the initial increase in the serum @entity442 concentration was a powerful risk factor for severe @entity551 , @entity925 , and @entity99 . There was no association between the serum @entity442 concentration and fluid retention or @entity247 . CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of the undernourished frail elderly with the anabolic agents rhGH and rhIGF-I at the specified dosages may produce undesirable side effects including fluid retention, @entity247 , and @entity551 . Although these agents hold therapeutic promise, they must be used with caution in this high-risk population.

Side effects resulting from the use of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I as combined therapy to frail elderly XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity99 :: ('MESH:D056486', 'Disease') :: ['drug-induced hepatitis'] @entity6112 :: ('MESH:D016055', 'Disease') :: ['Fluid retention'] @entity2301 :: ('3486', 'Gene') :: ['IGFBP-3'] @entity442 :: ('3479', 'Gene') :: ['IGF-I'] @entity247 :: ('MESH:D006177', 'Disease') :: ['gynecomastia'] @entity925 :: ('MESH:D063806', 'Disease') :: ['diffuse myalgias'] @entity551 :: ('MESH:D007022', 'Disease') :: ['orthostatic hypotension'] @entity2231 :: ('1909', 'Gene') :: ['eta']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
