List of Contributors. Preface; R. Vigneri. Introduction; A. Giustina, F. Manelli. Growth Hormone and the Heart: 1. The cellular and molecular basis for growth hormone action on the heart; A. Cittadini, P.S. Douglas. 2. Physiological effects of growth hormone on the heart; G. Lombardi, A. Colao. 3. The heart and the growth hormone deficiency syndrome; M.L. Vance. 4. Growth hormone replacement and cardiac function in the GHD adults; L. Thuesen, J.S. Christiansen. 5. The heart in acromegaly; M. Losa, K. Von Werder. 6. Impact of growth hormone-lowering treatments on heart function in acromegaly; P. Chanson. 7. Growth hormone secretion in congestive heart failure; F. Manelli, et al. 8. The growth hormone axis in cachectic patients with chronic heart failure: evidence for acquired growth hormone resistance; S.D. Anker, et al. 9. Growth hormone treatment in experimental heart failure; J. Isgaard, B.A. Bengtsson. 10. Acute growth hormone effects in human subjects with heart failure; F. Manelli, et al. 11. Effect of chronic growth hormone treatment in heart failure; M. Volterrani, et al. 12. Does the growth factor approach have a future in the treatment of human heart failure? L. Saccá, et al. 13. Exercise and growth hormone secretion; J.D. Veldhuis, A. Weltman. 14. Growth hormone and skeletal muscle function; E.C. Degli Uberti, et al. 15. Growth hormone and nutritional status; M. Scacchi, et al. 16. Effects of growth hormone on sodium homeostasis;G.Y.W. Kam, et al. 17. Growth hormone and exercise performance; W.B. Wehrenberg, et al. 18. IGF-1 and the heart; M.Y. Donath, J. Zapf. 19. Growth hormone-releasing peptides and the heart; V. Locatelli, et al. Index.