Increases in hemoglobin concentration and iron needs in response to growth hormone treatment.
We studied 36 children with short stature during the initial 6 months of recombinant human growth hormone treatment and found an elevation in the mean concentration of hemoglobin (p < 0.001). The elevation was highest in the eight patients with bone dysplasia (p < 0.001). The mean concentration of serum ferritin decreased (p < 0.01) and that of serum transferrin increased (p < 0.001). The prevalence of iron deficiency increased  from 6 patients (17%) with initial deficiency to 20 (56%) patients after therapy, indicating that iron supplementation should be considered in children treated with recombinant human growth hormone.
Vihervuori
E
E
Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Sipilä
I
I
Siimes
M A
MA
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005293:Ferritins