Fellowship in growth hormone research – Brescia, Italy

Growth hormone (GH) and its peripheral mediator Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) play important effects on skeleton and cardiovascular system. The primary end-point of this study is to evaluate the association between vertebral fractures and GH secretory reserve in patients with coronary disease and heart failure. Eighty patients with coronary disease, with or without heart failure, will be stratified for the skeletal phenotype by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and searching vertebral fractures by a quantitative morphometry. Thereafter, the enrolled patients will be evaluated for GH secretion by a pharmacological test with arginine and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in order to investigate the potential impact of functional GH deficiency on skeletal phenotype.

The deadline for applications is 18 December 2014. For further information please visit the Euraxess website.