Abstract
Exogenous growth hormone (GH) (0.1 U/kg/IM TIW) was administered to 4 female patients with Thalassemia Major (TM) and severe short stature to determine if their growth rate would improve. At the start of the study, all were < 1%ile in height, had a growth rate < 3 cm/yr, bone age < 12 yrs, nl TSH and T4 levels, nl GH response to L-Dopa/glucagon, and had no previous therapy with hormonal agents. After 6 months of GH treatment, Pt.l had an increase in growth rate from 3 to 4.8 cm/yr. Pt. 2 also had an increase in growth rate (5.1 cm/yr); however there was a concurrent advancement in puberty. Pts. 3 and 4 had no improvement in growth velocity. However, pt. 3 was found to have a mildly elevated TSH 3 months after GH was started. The data suggests that treatment with exogenous GH may be associated with an improvement in growth rate in some TM patients.
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Dimartino, J., Stoner, E., Giardina, P. et al. 900 EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS GROWTH HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR. Pediatr Res 19, 260 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00930
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00930