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Regulation of growth in children with chronic illness. Therapeutic implications for the year 2000
Insights
Children with chronic illnesses often experience poor growth due to various factors. Research indicates reduced somatomedin activity, suggesting potential future growth promotion therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Disorders
- Chronic Illness Management
Background:
- Children with chronic illnesses frequently exhibit poor growth and short stature.
- Growth impairment negatively impacts body image and treatment adherence, affecting long-term outcomes.
- The somatomedin system is crucial for mediating growth in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the somatomedin system in growth impairment in children with chronic illness.
- To identify factors contributing to reduced growth in this population.
- To explore potential therapeutic applications of somatomedin.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on growth in chronic illness.
- Analysis of studies examining somatomedin activity and inhibitory factors in affected children.
- Exploration of the relationship between chronic illness, somatomedin generation, and growth outcomes.
Main Results:
- Children with chronic illness often show reduced somatomedin generation by the liver.
- Elevated plasma factors inhibiting somatomedin's growth effects are observed.
- Multiple factors, including malnutrition and therapy side effects, contribute to poor growth.
Conclusions:
- Reduced somatomedin activity and inhibitory plasma factors are implicated in growth impairment in chronic illness.
- Understanding these mechanisms opens avenues for future therapeutic interventions using somatomedin.
- Targeting the somatomedin system may improve growth outcomes for affected children.
Abstract:
Children with chronic illness often have poor growth and short stature. The causes are multiple and are related to the organ systems involved, malnutrition, superimposed infections, and the effects of specific therapy, eg, steroids. The impairment of growth contributes to poor body image in these children and may result in problems complying with the treatment regimen and poorer long-term outcome, eg, in diabetes. The somatomedin system or net circulating somatomedin activity in the blood has been shown to mediate growth in children. In addition, many authors have now documented reduced somatomedin generation by the liver and an increase in plasma factors that inhibit the effects of somatomedin on growth in children with chronic illness. Recognition of these phenomena may lead to the use of somatomedin to promote growth in certain of these children in the future.