Circadian growth hormone secretion in asymptomatic human immune deficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Although anabolic effects of GH supplementation have been reported in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection per se on GH secretion are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the characteristics of GH secretion in eight asymptomatic HIV-infected men, eight clinically stable male AIDS patients, and eight healthy controls. Wasting AIDS patients were not included to circumvent the confounding effects of opportunistic disease on GH secretion. Samples for GH analysis were taken at 10-min intervals over 24 h. GH was measured by immunoradiometric assay (detection limit, 0.08 mU/L). Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 were measured every 6 h. The pulsatile secretion of GH was evaluated by Cluster and DESADE analyses. No differences in number of peaks, peak amplitude, peak length, peak interval, or GH secretion per 24 h were found among the studied groups. IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 concentrations were not different among groups. Circadian GH secretion in asymptomatic HIV infection and AIDS without wasting is not different from that in healthy subjects. Therefore, anabolic effects documented in clinical trials with recombinant human GH in AIDS patients are not merely explained by alterations in the GH/IGF-I axis induced by HIV infection per se.