EFFECTS OF GROWTH-HORMONE - RELEASING HORMONE (GRF) IN 5 CHILDREN WITH IMPAIRED GROWTH HORMONE (GH) SECRETION

Abstract

5 children (8.24+/-3.63 years) with growth retardation (3.4 +/-0.9 DS)bone age retardation (3.13+/-2.40 years) and insufficient growth velocity (3.9+/-0.6 cm/year) related with complete (n=2) or partial (n=3) GH deficiency were treated with a daily dose of 300 mcg GRF administred subcutaneously (SC)every other week for a 6 months period. GH response to SC GRF administration, GH and GRF antibodies and somatomedins were studied on repeated blood samples performed on day I and day 8 of the first week of treatment as well as at the end of the 6 months therapy. Growth velocity increased to 6.16+/-1.17 cm/year. 3 of the 5 patients have accelerated growth mainly for the first 3 months. Linear growth was increased in complete (+2.5 and 4.3 cm/year) more than in partial (+0.4, +0.8 and +3.3 cm/year) GH deficient children. The area under the GH curve after GRF administration was 1050.7+7-767.7 on day 1, 472.I+/-103.2 on day 8 and 631.9 +/-148.1 ng/ml x min. after 6 months therapy. No major change in other hormonal evaluations was noted.These results confirm that GRF can stimulate linear growth in some GH deficient children and lead to discuss the role of limiting factors in its long term effects such as desensitization, antibodies or somatostatin.