Skip to content

Growth Hormone Dynamics and Cardiac Steatosis in HIV

Role of Growth Hormone in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Cardiac Steatosis and Diastolic Dysfunction in HIV

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03826160
Enrollment
23
Registered
2019-02-01
Start date
2019-01-30
Completion date
2022-04-19
Last updated
2022-07-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cardiac Disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Lipodystrophy

Brief summary

Cardiac steatosis is increased among individuals with HIV, and may predispose to cardiac mechanical dysfunction and subsequent heart failure. The pathogenesis and treatment of cardiac steatosis is not well understood. The investigators have previously shown that perturbed growth hormone (GH) secretion in HIV contributes to ectopic fat accumulation in the viscera and the liver. Moreover, the investigators have found that augmentation of endogenous GH secretion with the FDA-approved medication tesamorelin reduces visceral and hepatic fat. In this longitudinal observational study, the investigators will examine patients with HIV and abdominal fat accumulation who either plan or do not plan to initiate tesamorelin prescribed clinically. The investigators hypothesize that blunted GH secretion in HIV is associated with cardiac steatosis. The investigators also hypothesize that use of tesamorelin for 6 months is associated with a reduction in intramyocardial fat and preserved cardiac function.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 70 Years

Inclusion criteria

* Men and women, ages 40-70 years * Documented HIV infection on stable antiretroviral therapy for ≥ 3 months * Abdominal obesity with waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men, ≥ 88 cm in women * Indication for tesamorelin per clinical judgment

Exclusion criteria

* CD4 \< 100 cells/mm3 or HIV viral load \> 400 copies/mL * Current active AIDS-defining illness * History or symptoms consistent with heart failure * Standard contraindications to MRI including severe allergy to gadolinium * Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 within one month of MRI study * Use of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) or growth hormone (GH) within the past 6 months * HbA1c \> 7%, chronic insulin use within the past 6 months, and/or change in anti-diabetic agents within the past 3 months * Change in statin therapy within the past 3 months * Chronic corticosteroid use except intermittent topic steroid creams or inhalers * Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Intramyocardial lipid content6 monthsMeasure of fat content within cardiac muscle as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Circumferential diastolic strain rate6 monthsMeasure of diastolic function as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026