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The effect of growth hormone on sleep-related cardio-respiratory control in Prader-Willi syndrome

M Katz-Salamon1, A C Lindgren, G Cohen

  • 1Department of Women and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. miriam.katz-salamon@karolinska.se

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|March 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) treatment in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) improves sleep oxygenation and cardiovascular function. However, it does not enhance breathing stability or chemoreflex responses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

  • Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder.
  • PWS is associated with sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular abnormalities.
  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a standard treatment for PWS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of GH treatment on cardiorespiratory control during sleep in PWS patients.
  • To investigate changes in breathing stability, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective clinical case series of 16 PWS patients (median age 16 months).
  • Evaluated HR, Pulse Transit Time (PTT; an index of BP), and ventilatory responses to CO2 and O2 stimuli during sleep.
  • Comparisons were made before and 6 months after initiating GH treatment.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment significantly improved arterial oxygenation during sleep.
  • Breathing stability, indicated by the apnoea-hypopnoea index, remained unchanged.
  • GH therapy enhanced the parallel regulation of HR and BP (PTT) but did not alter chemoreceptor-mediated autonomic drive.

Conclusions:

  • GH treatment positively impacts sleep oxygenation and cardiovascular function in PWS.
  • Observed improvements are not attributed to enhanced chemoreflex-mediated autonomic responses.
  • GH therapy may improve cardiovascular stability during sleep in PWS.
Abstract

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