Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Chronic Heart Failure

After the encouraging results of 6 months of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Coexisting Growth Hormone Deficiency (NCT00591760) the investigators wanted to collect data about the long-term efficacy and safety of this kind of therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic Heart Failure New York Heart Association functional class II to IV, secondary to ischemic or idiopathic cardiomyopathy
• Age range 18-80 years
• Stable medication for at least one month including beta-blockers that had to be started at least 5 months before entering the study
• Left Ventricular ejection fraction 40% or less
• Growth Hormone Deficiency (defined as a peak GH response to intravenous stimulation with GHRH + Arginine < 9 ng/ml)
• Written Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute proliferative or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• Active malignancy
• Evidence of progression or recurrence of an underlying intracranial tumor
• Unstable Angina or recent myocardial infarction
• Serum Creatinine levels > 2.5 mg/dl
• Severe liver disease (Child-Pugh B-C)