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Published on: February 2, 2024
Is treatment with growth hormone effective in children with cerebral palsy?
Melanie L Shim1, Thomas Moshang, William L Oppenheim
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, 10833 Le ConteAvenue MDCC 22-315, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. mshim@mednet.ucla.edu
Insights
Growth hormone therapy may help children with cerebral palsy (CP) grow taller. Studies show potential benefits, especially for those with diagnosed growth hormone deficiency, warranting further research into this treatment for CP patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently experience impaired linear growth, leading to reduced adult height.
- Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a potential intervention for growth issues in pediatric populations.
Observation:
- A case study of a female with CP and short stature, not GH-deficient, showed increased growth with GH treatment.
- Two other children with CP, one with leukemia history and another with Klinefelter syndrome, were treated with GH.
- These two children were GH-deficient and demonstrated improved growth rates following GH therapy.
Findings:
- Growth hormone treatment led to increased growth in children with cerebral palsy.
- The most significant growth improvements were observed in children with confirmed GH deficiency.
- GH therapy shows promise for children with CP experiencing short stature.
Implications:
- Growth hormone therapy may be a beneficial treatment option for children with cerebral palsy and associated growth problems.
- Further clinical investigation is warranted to confirm the efficacy and optimal use of GH therapy in pediatric CP patients.
- This research highlights the potential for endocrinological interventions in managing complex pediatric conditions like CP.
Abstract:
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have poor linear growth during childhood, resulting in a diminished final adult height. Here we report a female with CP and short stature but without growth hormone (GH) deficiency who exhibited increased growth during treatment with GH. We also report two other children with CP who were treated with GH: one female with a history of leukemia, and a male with Klinefelter syndrome. These two children were both found to be GH-deficient by insulin provocative GH testing and responded to treatment with increased growth rate. Growth improved to a greater extent in the two children with apparent GH deficiency. In summary, it is felt that GH therapy might be beneficial for children with CP and warrants further investigation.
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