Therapeutic value of recombinant human growth hormone in children with chronic renal failure.
In chronic renal failure (CRF), serum growth hormone (GH) levels are elevated due to a reduced renal metabolic clearance. Although the concentration of circulating GH is increased in CRF, insensitivity to GH is noted. This is mainly due to a decreased production of hepatic insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and an accumulation of its binding protein (IGFBP-3), both resulting in a low concentration of free active IGF-I. Treatment with recombinant human (rh) GH in doses of about 30 IU/m2/week, increases the serum concentration of IGF-I, normalizes somatomedin (IGF) bioactivity and leads to catch-up growth. The anabolic effects of rhGH are seen from an increase in muscle mass and a reduction of fat mass. rhGH treatment is also able to compensate for the growth-depressing effects of corticosteroids in animal studies and in children after renal transplantation.
Mehls
O
O
Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, FRG.
Tönshoff
B
B
Tönshoff
C
C
Haffner
D
D
Blum
W F
WF
D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000503:physiopathology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone