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The modulation of platelet function by growth hormone in growth hormone deficient Hypopituitary patients

Authors :
Irene K Oglesby
David Slattery
Nigel Glynn
Saket Gupta
Karen Duggan
Martin Cuesta
Eimear Dunne
Aoife Garrahy
Siobhan Toner
Dermot Kenny
Amar Agha
Source :
BMC Endocrine Disorders, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
BMC, 2023.

Abstract

Abstract Background Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has been implicated in increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease risk seen in hypopituitarism, however the mechanism remains speculative. We hypothesise that platelet abnormalities may play a contributory role. Herein we examined platelet behaviour in GHD hypopituitary patients, pre- and post-growth hormone (GH) replacement. Methods This study utilizes a physiological flow-based assay to quantify platelet function in whole blood from patient cohorts under arterial shear. Thirteen GH Naïve hypopituitary adults with GHD and thirteen healthy matched controls were studied. Patients were assessed before and after GH treatment. All other pituitary replacements were optimised before the study. In addition to a full endocrine profile, whole blood was labelled and perfused over immobilised von Willibrand factor (vWF). Seven parameters of dynamic platelet-vWF interactions were recorded using digital image microscopy and analysed by customised platelet tracking software. Results We found a significantly altered profile of platelet-vWF interactions in GHD individuals compared to healthy controls. Specifically, we observed a marked increase in platelets shown to form associations such as tethering, rolling and adherence to immobilized vWF, which were reduced post GH treatment. Speed and distance platelets travelled across vWF was similar between controls and pre-therapy GHD patients, however, this was considerably increased post treatment. This may indicate reduced platelet signaling resulting in less stable adhesion of platelets post GH treatment. Conclusions Taken together observed differences in platelet behaviour may contribute to an increased risk of thrombosis in GHD which can in part be reversed by GH therapy.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14726823
Volume :
23
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Endocrine Disorders
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.f4d98874af7a4416926c43aec7e5118f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-023-01448-6