Mechanisms
Growth hormone treatment may raise Lp(a) and explain reported cardiovascular morbidity in treated children, a hypothesis piece (Growth Horm IGF Res 2022)
Original title: Increase of serum lipoprotein (a), an adverse effect of growth hormone treatment
This brief review by Laron proposes that both high endogenous growth hormone and therapeutic human growth hormone administration raise serum Lp(a), a thrombogenic, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The author hypothesises that the previously reported association between childhood growth hormone treatment and cardiovascular morbidity may be explained by growth hormone effect on Lp(a) synthesis, and recommends measuring serum Lp(a) before and during growth hormone treatment in both children and adults.
Original abstract
A number of reports show that high endogenous, or therapeutic administration of human growth hormone (hGH) cause an increase of serum lipoprotein a, Lp(a). Being thrombogenic Lp(a) is an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Hence, it is hypothesized that the recently reported association between childhood hGH treatment and cardiovascular morbidity is probably due to the GH effect on Lp(a) synthesis. It is therefore suggested to determine serum Lp(a) levels before and during hGH treatment in children and adults.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.