The Effect of GHRH Therapy on Myocardial Structure and Function in Congestive Heart Failure
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
PP1- The purpose of this study is to determine whether giving more of the hormone produced by
everyone called growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) can improve heart function in
individuals with congestive heart failure. You must be 50 years old or older, have a
diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and have a high likelihood of having lower than normal
growth hormone effect. GHRH is approved by the US FDA for treatment in children with growth
hormone deficiency because GHRH stimulates Growth Hormone (GH). Its use for treatment of
congestive heart failure in adults is investigational.
Growth hormone releasing hormone is a hormone produced in the brain. We will be using
synthetic hormone made in the laboratory. It is identical to the hormone in the brain.
Many older people, due to aging have low levels of growth hormone. The aim of this study is
to find out whether restoring growth hormone levels to the levels found in younger
individuals and then maintaining those levels for 12 weeks will help strengthen heard muscles
in older persons with congestive heart failure.