Effect of growth hormone on exercise tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis

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Matthias Hütler1, Dirk Schnabel, Doris Staab

  • 1Sports Medicine, Free University Berlin, Clayallee 225C, 14195 Berlin, Germany. huetler@zedat.fu-berlin.de

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|April 5, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) treatment significantly improved exercise tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis by increasing lean body mass and enhancing cardiovascular and pulmonary function. This suggests GH is a viable option for improving physical capacity in pediatric CF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pulmonology
  • Sports Medicine

Background:

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) often leads to impaired growth and reduced exercise tolerance.
  • Growth hormone (GH) plays a crucial role in growth and metabolism.
  • The impact of GH on exercise capacity in pediatric CF patients remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment on exercise tolerance in prepubertal children with cystic fibrosis.
  • To assess changes in anthropometric data, pulmonary function, and exercise capacity.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized crossover study involving 10 prepubertal children with CF.
  • Participants were assigned to either a control (CON) or GH treatment period for 6 months each.
  • Measurements included anthropometrics, pulmonary function (FEV1), and exercise capacity (VO2peak, peak ventilation, peak oxygen pulse).

Main Results:

  • GH treatment significantly increased height, total body mass, and lean body mass (LBM) compared to CON.
  • Pulmonary function (FEV1) did not significantly change with GH treatment.
  • GH significantly improved absolute VO2peak (+19%), peak ventilation (+14%), and peak oxygen pulse (+18%).
  • Changes in LBM and FEV1 explained 71% of the variance in VO2peak.

Conclusions:

  • Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment effectively improves exercise tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis.
  • The improvements are likely due to the combined effects of GH on muscular, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems.
  • GH treatment represents a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance physical capacity in pediatric CF patients.
Abstract

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