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Effect of growth hormone therapy on bone metabolism of growth hormone deficient children

L Stamoyannou1, F Karachaliou, E Gioureli

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|August 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Human growth hormone (hGH) therapy impacts bone metabolism in children with GH deficiency, altering mineral levels. Early changes in renal phosphate excretion may predict growth response to hGH treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Bone Metabolism
  • Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Idiopathic growth hormone (GH) deficiency affects children's growth and development.
  • Bone metabolism is crucial for skeletal development during childhood.
  • Growth hormone plays a significant role in regulating mineral metabolism and bone formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of human growth hormone (hGH) therapy on biochemical markers of bone metabolism in children with GH deficiency.
  • To assess the relationship between hGH therapy, mineral metabolism, and growth response.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 17 children with idiopathic GH deficiency received hGH therapy (0.5-0.7 IU/kg weekly SC).
  • Serum levels of calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TPO4/GFR) were measured before and at 1 and 6 months after therapy initiation.
  • Growth response was evaluated by the increment in height velocity (HV).

Main Results:

  • hGH therapy led to significant decreases in serum calcium and significant increases in phosphate, osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, IGF-I, and TPO4/GFR.
  • Growth response (increment in HV) showed a positive correlation with changes in alkaline phosphatase and IGF-I levels after 6 months.
  • A significant positive correlation was observed between the increment in HV and the increment in TPO4/GFR after 1 month of therapy.

Conclusions:

  • GH treatment significantly influences mineral metabolism in children with GH deficiency.
  • Measurement of TPO4/GFR after 1 month of GH therapy can be a useful predictor of growth response in these children.
Abstract

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