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Response of Indian growth hormone deficient children to growth hormone therapy: association with pituitary size

Vaman V Khadilkar1, Hemchand Krishna Prasad, Veena H Ekbote

  • 1Department of Growth and Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|April 30, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children with smaller pituitary glands (hypoplastic pituitary) showed greater height improvement after one year of growth hormone (GH) therapy. This indicates hypoplastic pituitary size predicts a better short-term response to GH treatment in deficient children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Radiology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) affects children's growth and skeletal maturation.
  • Pituitary size on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may influence treatment response.
  • Assessing factors predicting GH therapy efficacy is crucial for pediatric GHD management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of pituitary size, assessed by MRI, on the response to growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with GH deficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-nine children with non-acquired GH deficiency were enrolled.
  • Clinical, radiological (including bone age and pituitary MRI), and biochemical data were collected.
  • Patients received one year of GH therapy, with outcomes assessed after the treatment period.

Main Results:

  • Children with hypoplastic pituitaries (<3 mm height) exhibited more severe baseline height deficits and skeletal maturation retardation.
  • After one year of GH therapy, significantly greater improvements in height for age Z-scores were observed in children with hypoplastic pituitaries.
  • A significant correlation was found between pituitary height and height for age Z-scores at baseline.

Conclusions:

  • Indian children with GH deficiency and a hypoplastic pituitary demonstrate a superior short-term response to GH therapy.
  • Pituitary size is a significant predictor of GH therapy response in pediatric GHD.
  • These findings aid in tailoring GH treatment strategies based on pituitary morphology.
Abstract

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