Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are increasingly recognised for their role in cardiovascular (CV) physiology. The GH-IGF-1 axis plays an essential role in the development of the CV system as well as in the complex molecular network that regulates cardiac and endothelial structure and function. A considerable correlation between GH levels and CV mortality exists even among individuals in the general population without a notable deviation in the GHIGF- 1 axis functioning. In addition, over the last decades, evidence has demonstrated that pathologic conditions involving the GH-IGF-1 axis, as seen in GH excess to GH deficiency, are associated with an increased risk for CV morbidity and mortality. A significant part of that risk can be attributed to several accompanying comorbidities. In both conditions, disease control is associated with a consistent improvement of CV risk factors, reduction of CV mortality, and achievement of standardised mortality ratio similar to that of the general population. Data on the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in patients with acromegaly or growth hormone deficiency and the effects of GH and IGF-1 levels on the disease progression is limited. In this review, we will consider the pivotal role of the GH-IGF-1 axis on CV system function, as well as the far-reaching consequences that arise when disorders within this axis occur, particularly in relation to the atherosclerosis process.

中文翻译：

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生长激素、动脉粥样硬化和外周动脉疾病：探索从肢端肥大症到生长激素缺乏的范围

生长激素 (GH) 和胰岛素样生长因子 1 (IGF-1) 在心血管 (CV) 生理学中的作用日益得到认可。GH-IGF-1 轴在 CV 系统的发育以及调节心脏和内皮结构和功能的复杂分子网络中发挥着重要作用。即使在一般人群中，GH 水平和 CV 死亡率之间也存在相当大的相关性，而 GHIGF-1 轴功能没有明显偏差。此外，过去几十年的证据表明，涉及 GH-IGF-1 轴的病理状况（如 GH 过量或 GH 缺乏）与 CV 发病率和死亡率风险增加相关。该风险的很大一部分可归因于几种伴随的合并症。在这两种情况下，疾病控制都与心血管危险因素的持续改善、心血管死亡率的降低以及与普通人群相似的标准化死亡率相关。关于肢端肥大症或生长激素缺乏症患者外周动脉疾病的患病率以及 GH 和 IGF-1 水平对疾病进展影响的数据有限。在这篇综述中，我们将考虑 GH-IGF-1 轴对 CV 系统功能的关键作用，以及该轴内发生疾病时产生的深远后果，特别是与动脉粥样硬化过程相关的疾病。