Effects of growth hormone on kidney function in pediatric transplant recipients.
Recent evidence suggests that treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) after a successful kidney transplant improves the growth rate of children with short stature. We prospectively investigated eight children (6 boys, 2 girls), focusing on acute rejection episodes and changes in serum creatinine levels during rhGH treatment. The children (mean age 11.6 +/- 3.4 years) received rhGH daily (0.04-0.05 mg/kg subcutaneously). Seven patients completed at least 12 months (20 +/- 8 months) of rhGH treatment. Their mean serum creatinine level was 1.3 +/- 0.7 mg/dl 12 months before, and increased to 3.4 +/- 4.2 mg/dl after 12 months of rhGH treatment, but did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.06). Their mean calculated glomerular filtration rate was 58 +/- 20 ml/min per 1.73 m2 12 months before, and decreased to 38 +/- 21 ml/min per 1.73 m2 after 12 months of rhGH treatment, but did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.08). Of the seven patients, two developed acute rejection after 5 and 6 rejection-free years; three lost their grafts and returned to dialysis. These preliminary observations describe untoward renal events in children receiving rhGH treatment after a kidney transplant.
Chavers
B M
BM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Doherty
L
L
Nevins
T E
TE
Cook
M
M
Sane
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone