OPPORTUNITY: a randomized clinical trial of growth hormone on outcome in hemodialysis patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mortality rate of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains high. Measures of protein-energy wasting, including hypoalbuminemia, are strongly associated with their high mortality. Growth hormone (GH) may improve lean body mass (LBM) and serum albumin levels, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which are significantly and positively associated with survival in MHD patients. The OPPORTUNITY Trial will examine whether GH reduces mortality and morbidity and improves overall health in hypoalbuminemic MHD patients.

Hypothesis

The primary hypothesis is that daily recombinant human GH injections, compared with placebo, improve survival in hypoalbuminemic MHD patients. Secondary hypotheses are that GH improves morbidity and health, including number of hos

SUBMITTER: Kopple JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2572295 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature