Progeria is a rare genetic disease with striking features that resemble 
accelerated aging. The inheritance pattern, paternal age effect, and lack of 
consanguinity argue that it is due to a sporadic dominant mutation. We have 
observed elevated levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) excretion in progeria patients. 
In several progeria patients we observed normal levels of growth hormone (GH) 
but very low levels of insulin-like growth factor I along with very high basal 
metabolic rates (BMRs). A trial of GH treatment was begun, which resulted in a 
marked increase in linear growth and a paradoxical drop in BMRs in these two 
patients. We hypothesize that the failure of patients with progeria to thrive 
may be due to a bioinactive form of GH and a lack of vasculogenesis caused by 
excess HA. An understanding of the progeria genetic mutation may define a key 
gene with a major effect on normal aging.