Abstract
Thirteen prepubertal uremic, children (mean glomerular filtration rate of <20.8 ml/min/1.73 m2) and short stature (H-SDS -3.5) were treated with growth hormone (Genotropin; 1 IU/Kg/week subcutaneously daily) for 12 months. Growth velocity increased significantly from 4.3 ± 2.1 to 9.6 ± 3.2 and 9.1 ± 2.0 cm/year at 6 and 12 months of treatment without acceleration of bone age and with a significant improvement in H-SDS (from -3.5 ± 1.0 to -3.1 ± 1.1 and -2.6 ± 1.3 respectively at 6 and 12 months). Renal function of the patients as a group did not deteriorate. Total bone mineral content, as well as cortical and trabecular bone mineral density was significantly decreased in patients before treatment with growth hormone; these values increased significantly with treatment reaching levels similar to those of a control group of healthy children. Total bone mineral content increased from 531.2 ± 88.5 to 698.5 ± 81.8 g, while cortical and trabecular bone mineral density increased from 0.591 ± 0.041 and 0.429 ± 0.045 g/cm2 to 0.690 ± 0.069 and 0.672 ± 0.058 g/cm2, respectively after 12 months of growth hormone therapy. Trabecular bone mineral density increased significantly in our patients compared to a control group of uremic children followed without GH therapy. These studies demonstrate that prepubertal uremic children have a diminished bone mass which increases reaching normal values following treatment with recombinant human growth hormone; their growth velocity also increases significantly, without apparent deterioration of renal function.
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Langs, R., Gunczler, P., Orta, N. et al. CHANGES IN BONE MINERAL DENSITY, GROWTH VELOCITY AND RENAL FUNCTION IN UREMIC PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN TREATED WITH GROWTH HORMONE. Pediatr Res 38, 622 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00033