Abstract

Abstract:Human growth hormone (HGH) produces an anabolic response in striated muscle. Since muscular dystrophy is characterized by a deterioration of muscle, studies were done to evaluate the response of these disorders to exogenous HGH. Four patients with myotonic dystrophy, seven with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and five with limb-girdle dystrophy were treated with HGH. Three dosage levels of HGH were used for each subject, and each subject was studied under metabolic balance procedures for 14 days. Patients with myotonic dystrophy and limb-girdle dystrophy, all adults, showed positive sodium, potassium and nitrogen balances and body weight increases far in excess of matched control subjects. These data were interpreted to represent c deposition of protoplasm and an increase in extracellular fluid volume. In contrast, negative balances of nitrogen and potassium were seen in six of the seven boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on the largest dose of HGH. Control subjects showed the expected positive metabolic responses. HGH is now being studied as a potential form of treatment of adult dystrophies. HGH is considered now not only to be of no value in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but must be suspected of playing a role in the pathophysiology of the disorder.