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Use of recombinant human growth hormone in children with thalassemia

Mitchell E Geffner1, Hanna Karlsson

  • 1Saban Research Institute, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., USA. mgeffner@chla.usc.edu

Hormone Research
|January 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) effectively increases growth rates in short children with thalassemia. However, growth outcomes in those without growth hormone deficiency (GHD) require further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Chronic anemias, particularly thalassemia, are associated with growth failure in children.
  • Approximately 30% of children with thalassemia experience growth impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in improving growth in children with thalassemia.
  • To evaluate growth hormone (GH) status in short children with thalassemia.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a cohort of 147 short children with thalassemia from the Pfizer International Growth Study Database (KIGS).
  • Assessment of treatment with rhGH for one year.
  • Evaluation of baseline characteristics including GH deficiency (GHD), birth weight, parental height, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 40% of short thalassemic children in the study had GHD.
  • rhGH treatment significantly increased growth rates in thalassemic children compared to baseline.
  • Growth rates achieved with rhGH were lower than those in short children with or without GHD.

Conclusions:

  • GH testing is recommended for short children with thalassemia.
  • rhGH treatment is indicated for thalassemic children diagnosed with GHD.
  • The benefit of rhGH therapy for short thalassemic children without GHD needs further study, particularly regarding final height.
Abstract

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