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Growth hormone treatment in cerebral palsy: long-term impact on growth, outcomes, and complications
Juntaek Hong1, Sujin Kim2, Junghwan Suh3
1Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Growth hormone (GH) treatment improved growth and metabolic markers in children with cerebral palsy (CP). GH therapy showed no negative impact on motor function or orthopedic issues, suggesting it is a safe and effective option for children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) presents challenges in growth and motor function.
- The role of growth hormone (GH) in managing these aspects in CP is not fully understood.
- Assessing GH treatment's impact on growth, metabolism, and musculoskeletal health in children with CP is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment on growth, metabolic parameters, gross motor function, and musculoskeletal complications in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To determine the safety and efficacy of GH treatment in this specific pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective single-center study involving children with CP receiving GH treatment for over one year.
- Collection of data on growth variables, metabolic indicators, and disease-specific factors.
- Statistical analysis of pre- and post-treatment data to assess outcomes and associations with GH treatment duration.
Main Results:
- GH treatment significantly improved height, weight, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) Z-scores.
- Metabolic improvements included increased bone age-to-chronological age ratio and altered liver enzymes and uric acid levels.
- No decline in gross motor function or significant worsening of hip subluxation or scoliosis was observed.
Conclusions:
- Growth hormone (GH) treatment is associated with significant improvements in growth and metabolic parameters in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- GH therapy appears safe, with no adverse effects on gross motor function or musculoskeletal complications like hip subluxation or scoliosis.
- These findings support GH treatment as a potentially beneficial and safe therapeutic option for children with CP, warranting further investigation.
Background:
This study examined the effects of growth hormone (GH) treatment on growth and metabolic parameters, gross motor function, and musculoskeletal complications in children with cerebral palsy.
Methods:
This retrospective single-center study included children who received GH treatment for over 1 year. Data on growth-related variables, metabolic indicators, and disease-specific factors were collected. Statistical analyses examined associations between GH treatment duration and outcomes, with pre- and post-treatment comparisons.
Results:
Twenty-two patients were enrolled in this study. GH treatment significantly improved height and weight Z-scores, along with insulin-like growth factor-1 Z-scores, regardless of GH deficiency or ambulatory status. Metabolic changes significantly included an increased bone age-to-chronological age ratio, decreased aspartate aminotransferase levels, and elevated uric acid levels. The gross motor function did not decline, and there was no significant worsening of hip subluxation or scoliosis.
Conclusion:
GH treatment led to significant improvements in growth and metabolic-related parameters without adverse effects on gross motor function or musculoskeletal complications. These findings suggest that GH treatment may be a safe and effective treatment option for children with cerebral palsy, providing potential benefits without increasing the risk of orthopedic complications.
Impact:
This study is the first to assess the long-term effects of GH treatment in children with CP. GH treatment improved height, weight, and insulin-like growth factor-1 Z-scores. Gross motor function did not decline during treatment, and no significant worsening of hip subluxation or scoliosis detected. There is a lack of longitudinal studies on the long-term effects of growth hormone administration in children with CP. It is anticipated that this study will lay the groundwork for large-scale multicenter prospective research.
