Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays
Published on: January 7, 2016
Association between recombinant human growth hormone therapy and refractive status in Korean children with idiopathic
Min-Woo Lee1, Yoo-Mi Kim2, Jae-Yun Sung3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) was linked to increased myopia and specific ocular changes. Longer rhGH treatment duration correlated with more myopic refractive error, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
Background:
- Idiopathic short stature (ISS) affects children's growth and requires therapeutic intervention.
- Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is a standard treatment for ISS.
- Ocular development and refractive status can be influenced by systemic factors and growth patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between rhGH therapy and ocular biometric and refractive characteristics in Korean children with ISS.
- To compare ocular parameters between children receiving rhGH therapy and healthy controls.
- To explore relationships between rhGH treatment duration and ocular changes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing rhGH-treated children (GH group) with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Comprehensive ophthalmologic assessments including axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness.
- Multivariable and exploratory analyses to identify associations between treatment duration, refractive error, and ocular structures.
Main Results:
- The GH group exhibited significantly more myopic SER compared to controls.
- Temporal pRNFL thickening was observed in the GH group.
- Longer rhGH treatment duration was associated with more myopic SER and, in some models, longer AL.
- Thinner GC-IPL thickness was associated with more myopic SER and longer AL in the GH group.
Conclusions:
- rhGH therapy in children with ISS is associated with more myopic refraction and distinct ocular structural characteristics.
- A potential relationship exists between prolonged rhGH exposure and refractive status, particularly myopia.
- Further longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate the long-term effects of rhGH on ocular growth and refractive development.
Abstract:
To investigate the association between recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy and ocular biometric and refractive characteristics in Korean children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). This cross-sectional study compared ocular parameters between children receiving rhGH therapy for ISS (GH group) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Comprehensive ophthalmologic assessments were performed, including axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness. The GH group showed significantly more myopic SER than controls (-1.68 ± 1.68 D vs. - 1.15 ± 1.17D, p = 0.048). Although mean AL was slightly longer in the GH group, the difference was not statistically significant (23.65 ± 1.10 mm vs. 23.43 ± 0.98 mm, p = 0.290). Sectoral pRNFL analysis revealed temporal thickening (p < 0.001) in the GH group. In multivariable analyses within the GH group, longer treatment duration was significantly associated with more myopic SER (P = 0.009). Although treatment duration was also associated with longer AL in the primary model (P = 0.041), this association became attenuated after exclusion of age from the model (P = 0.249). Exploratory analyses additionally demonstrated significant associations between thinner GC-IPL thickness and both more myopic SER (P = 0.010) and longer AL (P = 0.029) in the GH group. RhGH therapy in children with ISS was associated with more myopic refraction and distinct ocular structural characteristics in this cross-sectional analysis. The association between longer rhGH treatment duration and more myopic SER may suggest a possible relationship between prolonged rhGH exposure and refractive status. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, and further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the long-term relationship between rhGH exposure and ocular growth.
