Growth Hormone Treatment and Adverse Events

We compiled the major adverse events included in the Annual Research Reports of the Foundation for Growth Research published in and after 2000. We conducted a review of approximately 32,000 patients treated with growth hormone (GH) who subsequently developed leukemia and who were registered with the Foundation for Growth Research (from 1975 to December 31 1997). We performed a literature review and found that GH therapy was not associated with leukemia onset in patients with no risk factors for leukemia. We also reported the onset of diabetes mellitus (DM), scoliosis, and respiratory problems in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who were treated with GH. Osteoporosis, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and hyperlipemia were relatively frequent complications of Turner syndrome (TS).