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Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
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Preservation of physiological growth hormone (GH) secretion in idiopathic short stature after recombinant GH therapy

R H Wu1, Y St Louis, J DiMartino-Nardi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature does not hinder natural GH secretion. Studies show the GH secretory system remains resilient during and after treatment with recombinant DNA-generated human GH (rhGH-M).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Physiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a condition characterized by short stature without identifiable medical or hormonal causes.
  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a common treatment for ISS, but concerns exist about its potential impact on endogenous GH secretion.
  • Understanding the recovery of spontaneous GH secretion after therapy cessation is crucial for long-term patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the recovery of spontaneous GH secretion 48 hours after the cessation of GH therapy in children with ISS.
  • To evaluate the impact of recombinant DNA-generated human GH (rhGH-M) on the endogenous GH secretory system.
  • To determine the resilience of the GH secretory system in growing children undergoing GH treatment.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 11 prepubertal children with ISS were divided into therapeutic (n=7) and control (n=4) groups.
  • GH levels were sampled every 20 minutes for 24 hours (or 12-hour overnight studies) before and after 12 months of rhGH-M therapy.
  • Somatomedin-C levels were monitored throughout the treatment period.

Main Results:

  • Pre- and post-treatment GH secretory profiles (number of peaks, mean concentrations, peak amplitude, secretory rate) were comparable.
  • While mean GH and peak GH amplitude showed a non-statistically significant increase at 6 months in treated patients, overall profiles remained similar.
  • Somatomedin-C levels significantly increased in the treated group (P < 0.01), indicating therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Exogenous GH therapy, specifically rhGH-M, does not interfere with the maintenance of endogenous pulsatile GH secretion.
  • The GH secretory system demonstrates resilience in growing children, with spontaneous secretion recovering effectively after treatment cessation.
  • These findings support the safety and efficacy of GH therapy in managing ISS without compromising the natural hormonal axis.

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