Abstract
We have compared bone alkaline phosphatase (ALP, by lectin affinitv electrophoresis) and height velocity (HV), measured at 3-monthly intervals over one to two years, in three groups of short, healthy children treated with growth hormone. Group A were 12 prepubertal children with a bone age <8 years. Group B were 11 prepubertal boys with a bone age >8 years and a chronological age <14 years, and Group C were 4 boys older than 14 years, in prepuberty or early puberty. Analysis of variance showed that all groups had significant increments in HV and bone ALP during the first car of treatment (P<0.05), but the pattern of response was different for the different age groups. Group A had a maximal response at 3-6 months (P<0.001, paired t-test), decreasing thereafter to a nadir at 18 months. Group B also had a maximal response at 3-6 months (P<0.01), which was maintained at constant levels up to 2 years. Group C showed an increase at 3 months (P<0.005). with a further gradual increase up to 12 months, In all groups, changes in bone ALP mirrored the observed changes in HV, By contrast, a control group of 6 children treated wiih placebo for one year showed no significant change in HV or bone ALP. For groups A, B and C combined, the increments in HV and bone ALP at 3 months were significantly correlated (r = 0.49. P<0.01). We conclude that different patterns of growth may be observed in response to growth hormone in short normal children, and that there is a close temporal and quantitative relationship between changes in bone ALP and growlh. Bone ALP is therefore a useful short-term marker of growth in children.
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Crofton, P., Stirling, H. & Kelnar, C. CHANGES IN BONE ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE PARALLEL CHANGES IN HEIGHT VELOCITY DURING GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT OF SHORT NORMAL CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 35, 270 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00094
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00094