Effects of growth hormone on circulating cytokine network, and left ventricular contractile performance and geometry in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Recent experimental and clinical data indicate that abnormal central and peripheral immune reactions contribute to the progression of chronic heart failure, and that immunomodulation may be an important therapeutic approach in this syndrome.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 12 patients taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were middle-aged adults, both men and women.

Peak oxygen uptake (VO2 max), LV dimensions, LV mass index, end-systolic wall stress (ESWS), mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcfc), and contractile reserve (change of ratio Vcfc/ESWS after dobutamine administration) were also determined at the same period.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized and crossover study.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Each person switched between Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Analysis of Variance, Cardiomyopathy, Dilated, Cytokines, Exercise Test, Exercise Tolerance, Growth Hormone and Myocardial Contraction.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and crossover study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in 12 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

Its findings take up roughly 6 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.

The publication is from 2003 (European heart journal), a journal based in England.

More context: the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) compound page, all human trials.