The growth-hormone in long-term steroid-treated patients with chronic active hepatitis.
To determine whether the hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA) became suppressed in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) treated with prednisone or long-activity synthetic corticotrophin (L.A.S.C.) for at least 12 months 36 patients with CAH were assessed for growth hormone release following insulin hypoglycemia test (IHT). Sixteen out of the 36 patients were treated with steroids, 11 with L.A.S.C. and 9 were untreated. Sixteen patients were less than 12 years old of whom 8 were treated with prednisone and 5 with L.A.S.C. and 3 untreated. Suppression of HPA was observed only in two patients of whom one was treated with prednisolone for 24 months and the other one received L.A.S.C. for 23 months. Normal HPA was observed in all the other 34 patients. Two patients aged 6 and 8 years were treated with steroids for 3 and 6 years respectively and showed impairment of the growth in height and remained permanently stunted even when steroids had been discontinued. Our data suggest that both steroids and L.A.S.C. treatment does not impair HPA in patients with CAH when administered for less than two years.
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D008775:Methylprednisolone