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Growth and Metabolism in Children Born Small for Gestational Age

Manouk van der Steen1, Anita C S Hokken-Koelega1

  • 1Dutch Growth Research Foundation, P.O. box 23068, 3001 KB Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America
|June 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) treatment helps short small for gestational age (SGA) children grow taller. Long-term, GH therapy shows no adverse effects on metabolic health in adults, with reversible impacts on insulin sensitivity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Growth Disorders

Background:

  • Children born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience catch-up growth, but 10% remain short.
  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy is used to improve height in these children.
  • The long-term metabolic effects of GH treatment in SGA individuals are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term effects of GH treatment on adult height and metabolic health in individuals born SGA.
  • To determine if GH-induced catch-up growth in height has any unfavorable effects on body composition, blood pressure, or lipid levels.
  • To assess the reversibility of GH-induced changes in insulin sensitivity after treatment cessation.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal follow-up of SGA individuals who received GH treatment.
  • Assessment of adult height, body composition, blood pressure, and serum lipid levels.
  • Evaluation of insulin sensitivity before, during, and after GH treatment.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment significantly improved adult height in short SGA individuals.
  • At 6.5 years post-treatment, body composition, blood pressure, and lipid levels were similar to untreated SGA peers.
  • GH-induced reduction in insulin sensitivity was reversible after stopping treatment.

Conclusions:

  • GH treatment effectively improves adult height in short SGA children.
  • GH therapy does not have unfavorable long-term effects on metabolic health in SGA adults.
  • The metabolic benefits of GH treatment, including insulin sensitivity, are sustained or reversible after cessation.

Keywords:
GrowthGrowth hormone treatmentMetabolic healthSmall for gestational age

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