Effect of long-term treatment with recombinant human growth hormone on erythropoietin secretion in an anemic patient with panhypopituitarism

We studied the effect of treatment with recombinant human GH in an anemic patient with panhypopituitarism in which hemoglobin (Hb) concentration remained as low as 11.0 g/dl in spite of appropriate replacement with thyroid and adrenocortical hormones. Recombinant human GH was subcutaneously and constantly infused for 12 months using a portable syringe pump at a rate of 0.25 U/kg/week. After the treatment with human GH plasma erythropoietin (EPO) Ievels increased from 12.2 to 25.1 mIU/ml, with a concomitant increase of Hb concentration to 13.6 g/dl. When the administration of human GH was interrupted, both plasma EPO levels and Hb concentrations decreased. There was a close correlation between plasma GH and EPO levels before and during the human GH administration (y=2.444x + 13.423, r=0.641, p<0.05). Plasma GH levels were well correlated with Hb concentrations before and during human GH administration (y=0.529x + 11.313, r=0.690, p<0.01). Plasma IGF-I levels were also correlated with Hb concentrations (y=0.007x + 10.874, r=0.832, p<0.001), but not with plasma EPO levels. These findings suggest that GH treatment may be useful in anemic patients with panhypopituitarism.