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Rebecca Voelker, JAMA contributor

JAMA. 1998;279:1058.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Injections of a recombinant protein derived from human growth hormone can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels that increase the blood supply to the heart, according to a new study.

Researchers at Fulda Medical Center in Fulda, Germany, reported in the February 24 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association on 20 patients with ischemic or coronary heart disease who received the treatment. After receiving the recombinant protein in an injection administered during bypass surgery near blocked vessels, the researchers said all 20 patients experienced the development of new capillary networks that increased blood flow to the heart 2-fold to 3-fold.

Three years after the procedure, the researchers said, patients' ejection fractions improved from 50.3% to 63.8%. No adverse effects have been reported. Even though the procedure still is experimental, the researchers said it may particularly benefit patients who cannot undergo cardiac bypass . . . [Full Text of this Article]