Growth Hormone Dynamics and Cardiac Steatosis in HIV

Massachusetts General Hospital23 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Lipodystrophy Cardiac Disease

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Intramyocardial lipid content

Measure of fat content within cardiac muscle as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

Time frame: 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Circumferential diastolic strain rate

Measure of diastolic function as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)