Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
05:56

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: August 29, 2025

Growth problems and growth hormone treatment in children with cystic fibrosis

Dana S Hardin1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas 75390-9063, USA. dana.hardin@utsouthwestern.edu

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|July 3, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy shows promise for improving linear growth and weight gain in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Early findings suggest better clinical outcomes, including improved lung function and fewer hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pulmonology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) often experience impaired linear growth and weight gain despite nutritional support.
  • Growth velocity can be significantly reduced during puberty in CF patients, irrespective of clinical condition or sex hormones.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential benefits of growth hormone (GH) treatment in improving growth parameters in children with CF.
  • To explore the impact of GH therapy on clinical status, including pulmonary function and hospitalization rates.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies and clinical observations regarding GH treatment in pediatric CF patients.
  • Ongoing large multicenter trial assessing long-term GH therapy effects on quality of life and pulmonary status.

Main Results:

  • Previous studies suggest GH treatment significantly enhances height velocity and weight gain in children with CF.
  • Clinical experience indicates improved growth is linked to reduced hospitalizations, antibiotic use, and better pulmonary function.

Conclusions:

  • Growth hormone therapy presents a potential therapeutic strategy for addressing growth deficits in pediatric cystic fibrosis.
  • Further investigation through ongoing trials is crucial to confirm long-term benefits on quality of life and pulmonary health.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human Nasal Epithelial Cell Spheroids for Individualized Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Study08:00

Generation of Human Nasal Epithelial Cell Spheroids for Individualized Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Study

Published on: April 11, 2018

Forskolin-induced Swelling in Intestinal Organoids: An In Vitro Assay for Assessing Drug Response in Cystic Fibrosis Patients07:04

Forskolin-induced Swelling in Intestinal Organoids: An In Vitro Assay for Assessing Drug Response in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Published on: February 11, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy01:26

Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in the enlargement of a tissue or organ. Unlike hyperplasia, which involves an increase in cell number, hypertrophy is characterized by an increase in cell volume. This process often occurs in response to higher functional demand or hormonal stimulation, leading to the production of more structural proteins and organelles, thereby enhancing the cells' work capacity.There are two primary types of hypertrophy: physiological...
Major Hormones and Their Functions01:27

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors01:28

Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors

Hematopoietic growth factors are molecules that regulate the differentiation rate of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Erythropoietin (EPO), primarily produced by the kidneys, plays a crucial role in erythrocyte production. When oxygen levels in the blood are low, EPO is released into the bloodstream, reaching the bone marrow, where it stimulates HSCs to differentiate and mature into erythrocytes, which are vital for oxygen transport.
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...