Iron status of children with short stature during accelerated growth due to growth hormone treatment.
We determined the influence of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment on blood soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) in 35 children with short stature. Whereas the serum concentration of ferritin decreased from 29.6 micrograms/l to 19.7 micrograms/l, and that of transferrin increased from 2.9 g/l to 3.2 g/l during 6 months (p < 0.001), only a minimum rise in the sTfR concentration was observed (7.12 +/- 0.20 mg/l vs 7.51 +/- 0.19 mg/l, p = 0.025). The prevalence of anaemia or microcytosis did not increase. Most of the changes in serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations occurred during the first week. The study demonstrates that rapid body growth per se does not affect the sTfR concentration, but it may affect the serum transferrin and ferritin concentrations. Alternatively, GH may have a specific effect on serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations.
Vihervuori
E
E
Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Cook
J D
JD
Siimes
M A
MA
D001824:Body Constitution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005293:Ferritins