natriuretic-peptide--brain and Hypopituitarism

To investigate whether testosterone administration alters natriuretic peptide levels in women.. Three-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.. Clinical research center.. Fifty-one women with hypoandrogenemia due to hypopituitarism.. Transdermal testosterone (300 μg daily) or placebo patch.. N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.. NT-proBNP levels decreased in the transdermal testosterone group compared with placebo over three months. The difference between groups remained significant after controlling for baseline age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Change in NT-proBNP over 3 months was inversely associated with change in free testosterone levels.. Testosterone administration to women results in decreased natriuretic peptide levels, suggesting that testosterone may be an inverse regulator of the natriuretic peptide system.. NCT00027430.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Androgens; Biomarkers; Boston; Double-Blind Method; Down-Regulation; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Hypopituitarism; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Pilot Projects; Regression Analysis; Testosterone; Time Factors; Transdermal Patch; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Severe adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We have therefore investigated levels of amino terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP), a well established biomarker for cardiac failure, in adult GHD patients before and after GH replacement therapy, and potential parallel variations in cardiac function. Nt-proBNP concentrations were determined at baseline and after GH treatment in two studies including 28 and 12 patients with severe AGHD, respectively. In the second study, a maximal exercise test and a doppler echocardiography were performed to assess cardiac functional parameters. At baseline, Nt-proBNP levels were higher in AGHD patients than in controls (median: 7.8 vs. 3.7 pmol/L; p < 0.01 in study 1; 8.4 vs. 4.1 pmol/L; p < 0.01 in study 2). Following GH treatment, Nt-proBNP levels decreased significantly in both studies. None of the AGHD patients had signs of cardiac dysfunction at baseline and no significant effect of GH replacement therapy was observed on cardiac functional parameters, independent of changes in Nt-proBNP. In conclusion, GH treatment markedly reduces Nt-proBNP concentrations in adult GHD patients without obvious parallel changes in cardiac functional parameters. These results suggest that Nt-proBNP may appear as a biomarker of GH status and GH treatment efficiency.

Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Blood Pressure; Case-Control Studies; Creatinine; Exercise Test; Female; Heart Function Tests; Heart Rate; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Hypopituitarism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Ultrasonography