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Effects of one-year low-dose growth hormone (GH) therapy on body composition, lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism in young adults with childhood-onset severe GH deficiency confirmed after completion of growth promotion
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Abstract
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 54 young adults (38 male), age 17.6 ± 1.5 years, with childhood-onset GHD, who had reached final height. At least 1 month after the GH therapy withdrawal, the second evaluation of GH secretion was performed in all the patients. In 24% of patients, permanent severe GHD (PSGHD) was confirmed, but a group of 9 patients (4 male) was involved in renewed GH therapy.
Results: The renewed GH therapy gave positive effects, including a significant increase in fat-free mass and a decrease in fat mass, and a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol, but connected with an insignificant decrease of HDL-cholesterol serum concentration and improved results of quality of life (QoL) assessment. During the therapy, an insignificant increase of fasting insulin was observed, with no change in fasting glucose and only a slight increase in HbA1c percentage. A decrease of insulin sensitivity was also observed, but both insulin secretion and the values of insulin resistance indices still remained within the reference range.
Conclusions: The observed positive effects on body composition, lipid metabolism and QoL, together with the absence of adverse events, confirm the indications for GH therapy in young adults with severe GHD.
Abstract
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 54 young adults (38 male), age 17.6 ± 1.5 years, with childhood-onset GHD, who had reached final height. At least 1 month after the GH therapy withdrawal, the second evaluation of GH secretion was performed in all the patients. In 24% of patients, permanent severe GHD (PSGHD) was confirmed, but a group of 9 patients (4 male) was involved in renewed GH therapy.
Results: The renewed GH therapy gave positive effects, including a significant increase in fat-free mass and a decrease in fat mass, and a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol, but connected with an insignificant decrease of HDL-cholesterol serum concentration and improved results of quality of life (QoL) assessment. During the therapy, an insignificant increase of fasting insulin was observed, with no change in fasting glucose and only a slight increase in HbA1c percentage. A decrease of insulin sensitivity was also observed, but both insulin secretion and the values of insulin resistance indices still remained within the reference range.
Conclusions: The observed positive effects on body composition, lipid metabolism and QoL, together with the absence of adverse events, confirm the indications for GH therapy in young adults with severe GHD.
Keywords
severe GHD; GH therapy; body composition; lipid profile; carbohydrate metabolism; insulin resistance; quality of life
About this articleTitle
Effects of one-year low-dose growth hormone (GH) therapy on body composition, lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism in young adults with childhood-onset severe GH deficiency confirmed after completion of growth promotion
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
292-293
Published online
2008-07-09
Page views
589
Article views/downloads
1214
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2008;59(4):292-293.
Keywords
severe GHD
GH therapy
body composition
lipid profile
carbohydrate metabolism
insulin resistance
quality of life
Authors
Maciej Hilczer
Joanna Smyczyńska
Renata Stawerska
Andrzej Lewiński
