Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment of children undergoing peritoneal dialysis

The authors studied the effect of recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) treatment on 5 growth retarded children, age 2 2/12 to 17 8/12 years, who had end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and were undergoing continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). Patients received 0.125 mg/kg of subcutaneous rhGH 3 times weekly. Accelerated height velocity compared to the previous year of CCPD was noted in 2 patients and improvement in the standard deviation score (SDS) as a parameter of improved growth velocity was noted in a third patient. This was associated with an increase in weight and improvement in the midarm muscle circumference (MAMC) suggesting an anabolic effect of rhGH treatment. Bone age advancement was consistent with the period of observation; no advancement greater than that expected for the increase in chronological age was observed. No significant side effects were attributable to rhGH therapy. These preliminary results indicate some growth retarded children without growth hormone deficiency with ESRD undergoing CCPD may respond to exogenous rhGH therapy with an acceleration in growth velocity: However, the failure to achieve uniform acceleration of height velocity indicates the need for controlled studies before rhGH can be recommended for all growth retarded children with ESRD undergoing peritoneal dialysis.