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Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
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Growth hormone levels in children and adolescents with epilepsy

Hamed A El-Khayat1, Gamal S Aly, Hoda Y Tomoum

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society
|March 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children with epilepsy show reduced physical growth, potentially due to hormonal imbalances affecting growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. This study investigated these effects in pediatric patients on anti-epileptic drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Neurology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Epilepsy and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) can disrupt hormonal balance.
  • Previous studies noted growth disturbances in epileptic patients.
  • The impact of epilepsy and AEDs on growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) requires further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effect of idiopathic epilepsy and AEDs on physical growth.
  • To evaluate GH and IGF-1 status in children and adolescents with epilepsy.
  • To compare growth parameters and hormonal levels between epileptic patients and a control group.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 40 children/adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy on valproate or carbamazepine.
  • Performed anthropometric measurements including height and body mass index (BMI).
  • Assessed serum GH (pre- and post-L-dopa provocation) and IGF-1 levels, comparing to a matched control group.

Main Results:

  • Epileptic patients exhibited reduced height and significantly higher BMI compared to controls, particularly those on valproate.
  • Post-provocation GH and IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in patients.
  • Epilepsy type, duration, and seizure control did not significantly affect studied parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Epilepsy and/or AEDs appear to negatively impact physical growth in children.
  • Reduced post-provocation GH and IGF-1 levels suggest hormonal imbalance as a contributing factor.
  • Further research into managing growth and hormonal status in epileptic children is warranted.
Abstract

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