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Recombinant human growth hormone therapy does not increase microalbuminuria in children with short stature
D Levine1, P Kreitzer, S Freedman
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
Insights
Recombinant human growth hormone treatment did not increase microalbuminuria in children with normal renal function. This study supports the safety of growth hormone therapy for children with normal kidney function.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Nephrology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding potential adverse effects of growth hormone (GH) on renal function.
- Microalbuminuria serves as a sensitive indicator of early glomerular damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on renal function in children.
- To measure microalbuminuria levels in children undergoing rhGH treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 17 children receiving rhGH for short stature was compared to 13 untreated children with idiopathic short stature.
- Microalbuminuria was quantified using ELISA, and urinary creatinine levels were measured.
Main Results:
- The mean microalbuminuria level in the rhGH-treated group was 0.484 +/- 0.275 g albumin/mol creatinine.
- The mean microalbuminuria level in the untreated control group was 0.681 +/- 0.574 g albumin/mol creatinine.
- No statistically significant difference in microalbuminuria was observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant human growth hormone treatment does not appear to increase microalbuminuria in children with normal renal function.
- This finding supports the safety profile of rhGH in pediatric patients with normal kidney function.
Objective:
Concerns have been raised about possible adverse effects of growth hormone on renal function. We measured microalbuminuria as a sensitive index of early glomerular damage in children being treated with recombinant human growth hormone.
Design And Patients:
Microalbuminuria was measured in a group of 17 children with short stature being treated with recombinant human growth hormone and in a group of 13 patients with idiopathic short stature not receiving therapy.
Measurements:
Microalbuminuria was measured by a commercially available ELISA and urinary creatinines were determined using a Beckman creatinine analyser.
Results:
The level of microalbuminuria was 0.484 +/- 0.275 g albumin/mol creatinine (mean +/- SD) in the patients receiving growth hormone and 0.681 +/- 0.574 g albumin/mol creatinine in the untreated controls. There was no statistically significant difference between these values.
Conclusions:
Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone does not cause an increase in microalbuminuria in children with normal renal function. This supports the safety of this medication in growth hormone deficient children with normal renal function.