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Published on: January 7, 2016

Effects of recombinant human growth hormone for 1 year on body composition and muscle strength in children on

Dominique Simon1, Corinne Alberti, Marianne Alison

  • 1Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Robert Debré, Service d'Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, 75019 Paris, France. dominique.simon@rdb.aphp.fr

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) improved height, lean mass, and muscle area in children on glucocorticoids. However, rhGH did not significantly enhance muscle strength in this patient group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is known to improve growth and body composition in children undergoing glucocorticoid therapy.
  • However, the specific impact of rhGH on muscle strength in this population remains inadequately understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of rhGH on muscle strength in children receiving long-term glucocorticoid treatment.
  • Secondary objectives included assessing rhGH's impact on height Standard Deviation Score (SDS) and body composition.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, controlled, delayed-start study was conducted over 12 months.
  • Participants received rhGH at a specific dosage, with adjustments to maintain IGF-I levels within a target range.
  • Muscle strength was assessed using the Composite Index of Muscle Strength (CIMS), alongside measurements of height SDS, lean mass (LM), and thigh muscle area (MA).

Main Results:

  • At 6 months, rhGH therapy did not significantly alter CIMS or CIMS SDS(height) compared to the control group.
  • However, the rhGH group showed significant improvements in height SDS, LM, and MA.
  • After 1 year, height SDS, LM, and MA continued to increase significantly, while CIMS showed a notable increase but CIMS SDS(height) remained within the normal range.

Conclusions:

  • rhGH effectively promotes increases in height, lean mass, and muscle area in children treated with glucocorticoids.
  • Despite improvements in body composition and muscle size, rhGH did not lead to a statistically significant improvement in muscle strength within the study period.
Abstract

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