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Growth hormone normalizes pubertal onset in children with cystic fibrosis

Mark Vanderwel1, Dana S Hardin

  • 1University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Dallas, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
|April 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy can normalize the timing of puberty in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study found that GH treatment helps initiate normal pubertal development in prepubertal males and females with CF.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cystic Fibrosis Research
  • Growth Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) frequently experience delayed puberty and impaired growth.
  • Growth hormone (GH) is a potential therapeutic agent for addressing these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of GH treatment on pubertal maturation in children with CF.
  • To determine if GH therapy can normalize the onset and progression of puberty in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pubertal maturation data from 105 children with CF.
  • Data collected from participants in studies involving GH treatment (1 year on GH, followed by off GH, or vice versa).
  • Pubertal staging assessed throughout the study periods.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment normalized the onset of breast development in prepubertal females with CF.
  • Females treated with GH during puberty experienced normal breast development tempo.
  • GH treatment normalized the onset of testicular volume in prepubertal males with CF.
  • GH did not accelerate testicular size progression in pubertal males with CF.

Conclusions:

  • Growth hormone therapy effectively normalizes pubertal onset in prepubertal children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
  • GH treatment represents a viable strategy to address pubertal delays in pediatric CF patients.
Abstract

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