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Iron status of children with short stature during accelerated growth due to growth hormone treatment
E Vihervuori1, J D Cook, M A Siimes
1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Human growth hormone (hGH) treatment in children with short stature minimally impacts soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels. However, hGH significantly alters serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations, indicating its specific effects on iron metabolism markers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Short stature affects children's growth and development.
- Iron metabolism markers like ferritin and transferrin are crucial for assessing iron status.
- Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a sensitive indicator of cellular iron deficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment on blood soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels in children with short stature.
- To evaluate changes in serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations during hGH therapy.
- To determine if rapid growth induced by hGH influences iron status indicators.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 35 children with short stature undergoing hGH treatment for 6 months.
- Monitoring of serum concentrations of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin, and transferrin.
- Assessment of the prevalence of anemia and microcytosis.
Main Results:
- Serum ferritin decreased significantly (29.6 to 19.7 µg/l) and transferrin increased (2.9 to 3.2 g/l) within 6 months (p < 0.001).
- A minimal, though statistically significant, rise in sTfR concentration was observed (7.12 to 7.51 mg/l, p = 0.025).
- No increase in the prevalence of anemia or microcytosis was noted; most ferritin and transferrin changes occurred within the first week.
Conclusions:
- Rapid body growth induced by hGH does not significantly affect sTfR levels.
- hGH treatment appears to have specific effects on serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations, independent of growth rate.
- hGH therapy in children with short stature does not lead to iron deficiency anemia or microcytosis.
Abstract:
We determined the influence of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment on blood soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) in 35 children with short stature. Whereas the serum concentration of ferritin decreased from 29.6 micrograms/l to 19.7 micrograms/l, and that of transferrin increased from 2.9 g/l to 3.2 g/l during 6 months (p < 0.001), only a minimum rise in the sTfR concentration was observed (7.12 +/- 0.20 mg/l vs 7.51 +/- 0.19 mg/l, p = 0.025). The prevalence of anaemia or microcytosis did not increase. Most of the changes in serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations occurred during the first week. The study demonstrates that rapid body growth per se does not affect the sTfR concentration, but it may affect the serum transferrin and ferritin concentrations. Alternatively, GH may have a specific effect on serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations.