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Role of Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 in Modulating Disease Severity in Children with COVID-19 and

Kateryna Kozak1, Kateryna Hlushko1, Iryna Sarapuk1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics No.2, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.

Infection and Drug Resistance
|March 23, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may influence COVID-19 and MIS-C severity in children. Lower GH and IGF-1 levels were associated with increased disease severity and risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have variable clinical courses influenced by multiple factors.
  • The somatotropic axis, involving growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), may play an immunomodulatory role in disease susceptibility and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of GH and IGF-1 in the clinical course of COVID-19 and MIS-C in pediatric patients.
  • To explore the association between GH and IGF-1 levels and disease severity markers.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study in Ukraine (2021-2023) analyzed GH and IGF-1 levels in 90 children (1 month-17 years) with COVID-19, MIS-C, or as healthy controls.
  • Hormone levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

  • Children with MIS-C had significantly lower GH levels than healthy controls. Reduced IGF-1 levels were more frequent in severe COVID-19 and MIS-C.
  • Low GH and IGF-1 levels correlated with inflammatory markers (CRP, ferritin, IL-6) and immune cell changes (neutrophilia, lymphopenia).
  • Specific GH and IGF-1 thresholds were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 and MIS-C.

Conclusions:

  • GH and IGF-1 levels are associated with COVID-19 and MIS-C severity in children.
  • The immunomodulatory roles of GH and IGF-1 should be considered in managing pediatric infectious diseases, even in previously healthy children.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19MIS-Cchildrengrowth hormoneinsulin-like growth factor-1

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