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Growth hormone improves body composition and motor development in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome after six months

Barbara Whitman1, Aaron Carrel, Tracy Bekx

  • 1St. Louis University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, MO 63104-1095, USA. whitmanb@slu.edu

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|June 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy significantly improved body composition and motor skills in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). This 6-month study shows promising results for PWS treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) exhibit abnormal body composition.
  • Previous studies indicate growth hormone (GH) therapy enhances body composition and motor skills in children with PWS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of 6-month GH therapy on body composition and motor development in infants with PWS.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-five infants with PWS underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for body composition and the Toddler Infant Motor Evaluation (TIME) for motor skills.
  • Participants were randomized to receive GH treatment (Genotropin) or a placebo for 6 months.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment led to a significant increase in lean body mass (from 6.4 to 8.9 kg) and a decrease in body fat (from 27.6% to 22.4%).
  • Motor scores improved by 4 months in the treated group compared to 2 months in the control group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Six months of GH therapy significantly improves body composition and motor development in infants with PWS.
  • Further research is ongoing to determine if these improvements result in long-term obesity reduction.
Abstract

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