Abstract
Sex steroids are involved in regulating Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) levels. In addition, thyroid hormones, growth hormone (GH) and nutritional status may affect SHBG levels. The GH role on this regulation is still unknown; It has been reported that hGH treatment decreases SHBG levels in GH deficient prepubertal children, probably via insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGE-I). To evaluate the effect of hCH therapy on SHBG without the interference of gonadal sex steroids, we studied 23 euthyroid prepubertal. Turner patients before and during hGH therapy. Their chronological age(mean ± SD) was 9.5 ± 2.8 yr, bone age 7.7 ± 2.5, Just 2 patients showed a deficient GH response to pharmacological stimuli (peak < 7 mcg/L). HGH was given at 1 1U/kg/week sc divided into 6 weekly doses. No patient was treated with estrogens. SHBG ICF-1, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), T3, T4 and TSH were evaluated before and 13.6 ± 5.3 mo after start of hGH therapy. In all patients, SHBG levels did not significantly change on treatment (32.8 ± 10.2 vs 49.4 ± 6.9 nmol/L). hGF-1 increased significantly from 81.9 ± 13 to 184.2 ± 36.8 ng/ml (p 0.05) Thyroid hormones, E2 and T remained unchanged. No variation was obser ved in Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5 ± 0.8 vs 18.7 ± 0.7). In conclusion, in spite of a significant increase of increase of IGF-1 levels, hGH therapy, at least at the high dose used, does not seem to exert any influence on SHBG levels in Turner patients.
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Municchi, C., Pasquino, A., Larizza, D. et al. GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT AND SHBG LEVELS IN TURNER SYNDROME. Pediatr Res 35, 264 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00057
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199402000-00057