SHORT AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT ON LIPID, LIPOPROTEIN, AND APOLIPOPROTEIN LEVELS IN SHORT NORMAL-CHILDREN

Since recombinant growth hormone (GH) has been available, its use has been extended to heating not only children with growth hormone deficiency but also short-statured children without GH deficiency. It is interesting, therefore, to determine whether GH therapy given in I conventional doses causes metabolic side effects in these patients. In the present study we have examined the effect of recombinant human GH on eleven short normal children. Patients received 12 U/m(2)/week for 1 year. Before beginning treatment, the children had a mean annual growth velocity of 5.1+/-0.9 cm/yr; during the year of treatment, the therapy was effective and improved the mean growth velocity to 7.1+/-1.7 cm/yr, p<0.05. We evaluated the subacute short-term effects during the first 15 days of treatment and the long-term effects for one year of GH treatment on lipid and lipoprotein levels. We found a significant increase in total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at the 6th month. Triglycerides (TG) increased significantly al the 3rd and 6th month. Both TC and TG returned to baseline at the 12th month. In no case however did I the levels of TC, LDL-C and TG go above normal nor were there any changes in the following tests: high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I, Apo B, Apo C-II, Apo C-III and Apo E. In conclusion, conventional doses of GH given to short normal children are I effective in ameliorating growth velocity and do not cause serious metabolic side effects.