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Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: implications for growth hormone deficient children

M A Preece

    Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
    |September 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Human growth hormone (hGH) injections, used for 25 years to treat short stature, have been halted. This follows four deaths from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), posing significant risks and treatment challenges.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Human growth hormone (hGH) injections were a standard treatment for children with short stature due to growth hormone deficiency for over two decades.
    • This established therapy has been discontinued following adverse events.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To address the implications of the cessation of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment.
    • To highlight the risks associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) transmission through hGH therapy.
    • To underscore the urgent need for alternative treatments for growth disorders.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of reported cases linking hGH treatment to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
    • Analysis of the safety profile of past hGH therapies.
    • Assessment of the therapeutic gap created by the discontinuation of hGH.

    Main Results:

    • Four deaths in young adults were reported, linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in individuals treated with hGH.
    • The established hGH treatment for short stature has been consequently stopped.
    • Significant public health concerns arise regarding potential further CJD cases.

    Conclusions:

    • The cessation of hGH therapy presents major implications for patients with growth deficiencies.
    • The risk of further Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) cases necessitates stringent monitoring and preventative measures.
    • The lack of a proven alternative therapeutic substitute creates a critical unmet medical need.

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