Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels and blood pressure in short children born small for gestational age and effects of growth hormone treatment.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in the context of low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension.

To investigate whether GH treatment affects plasma MMP-9 levels in short SGA children and whether these are related to BP.

Why It Was Studied

The underlying mechanism is still unknown.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endoproteinases that are involved in the remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and are thought to play a role in atherosclerosis.

Who Took Part

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were young children and children, both men and women.

Patients Thirty-eight short SGA children receiving GH treatment vs. 17 sex- and age-matched untreated short SGA controls.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized.

Because people in this Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

What Was Measured

High MMP-9 levels are found in hypertensive patients and predict cardiovascular mortality.

The subject headings attached to it are Blood Pressure, Body Height, Child Development, Growth Disorders, Human Growth Hormone, Infant, Small for Gestational Age and Matrix Metalloproteinase 9.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in people with low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension.

Results are reported in around 7 sentences of the abstract; we leave them to the paper itself rather than summarise them.

The publication is from 2008 (Clinical endocrinology), a journal based in England.

More context: the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) compound page, Low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension research.