Positive effects of short-term growth hormone treatment on lean body mass and BMC after a hip fracture: a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study in 20 patients.

Background: A catabolic state develops after a hip fracture, with loss of muscle and bone tissue. Growth hormone (GH) treatment has been shown to exert anabolic effects during other catabolic states. We investigated whether GH given postoperatively to elderly hip fracture patients could increase serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and reduce the loss of lean body mass and bone mineral content (BMC) without considerable side effects.

Patients and methods: We randomized 20 patients operated on for a hip fracture to a double-blind placebo-controlled 4-week study with daily subcutaneous injections of GH or placebo. The patients were followed for another 2 months after termination of GH treatment.

Results: Serum IGF-I and the IGF-I binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) were measured by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique. BMC and lean body mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography. Serum IGF-I increased significantly during GH treatment, which also preserved lean body mass and BMC without serious adverse events.