Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term growth hormone gene therapy improves appetite and activity
By Tone, Catherine M et al.·Published in Cancer gene therapy·2004·ADViSYS, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Long-term effects of plasmid-mediated growth hormone releasing hormone in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of older dogs, some with cancer, received a special treatment involving a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) plasmid to help improve their quality of life. Over time, these dogs showed better weight, increased activity levels, and improved appetite without any side effects from the treatment. Blood tests also indicated healthier red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels. Overall, the dogs experienced a significant boost in their well-being for at least six months after receiving the treatment.
People also search for: dog cancer treatment · improving appetite in older dogs · GHRH treatment for dogs · dog anemia treatment · quality of life in senior dogs
Abstract
Geriatric and cancer-afflicted patients often experience decreased quality of life with cachexia, anemia, anorexia, and decreased activity level. We have studied the possibility that a myogenic plasmid that expresses growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) can prevent and/or treat these conditions. We administered plasmid to 17 geriatric and five cancer-afflicted companion dogs with an average age of 10.5+/-1.0 and 11.3+/-0.6 years at enrollment, respectively. Effects of the treatment were documented for at least 180 days post-treatment, with 10 animals followed for more than 1 year post-treatment, on average 444+/-40 days. Treated dogs showed increased IGF-I levels, and increases in scores for weight, activity level, exercise tolerance, and appetite. No adverse effects associated with the GHRH plasmid treatment were found. Most importantly, the overall assessment of the quality of life of the treated animals increased. Hematological parameters such as red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentrations were improved and maintained within their normal ranges. We conclude that intramuscular injection of a GHRH-expressing plasmid is both safe and capable of improving the quality of life in animals for an extended period of time in the context of aging and disease. The observed anabolic and hematological responses to a single dose of this plasmid treatment may also be beneficial in geriatric patients or patients with cancer-associated anemia and/or cachexia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15073611/