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Metabolic Consequences of 5-Year Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy in Children Treated with GH for Idiopathic Short Stature¹

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467; and Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Paul Saenger, M.D., Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, New York 10467.

In a multicenter study the metabolic effects of 5 yr of GH therapy in children with idiopathic short stature were evaluated. Patients received 0.3 mg/kg·week recombinant human GH. Of the 121 patients who entered the study, data for 62 were analyzed at the final 5 yr point. Routine laboratory determinations were available for all 62 subjects at the 5 yr point. Special laboratory determinations, such as postprandial glucose and insulin, were available for only a subset of patients. Mean insulin-like growth factor I levels rose to 283 ± 101 µg/L, within the normal range using age-appropriate reference standards. T₄, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood chemistries, and blood pressure showed no significant changes during the 5-yr period. Mean baseline and 2-h postprandial glucose levels remained unchanged. Both fasting and postprandial insulin levels rose substantively from low normal levels to the normal range (median, 4.9–43 mU/L). Mean hemoglobin A_1c levels remained within the normal range throughout the study.

In summary, careful monitoring has not revealed any currently discernible metabolic side-effects of clinical significance after GH therapy in this 5-yr study of children with idiopathic short stature.

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