Short-term anabolic effects of recombinant human growth hormone in young patients with a renal transplant.
Renal-transplanted children may present stunted growth, negative nitrogen balance (Nb), and alterations in body composition. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is a potent anabolic agent which improves nutritional status and Nb. In renal-transplanted children, rhGH increases growth velocity but its effect on nutritional status has not been reported. We evaluated the effect of 6 months of rhGH treatment on Nb, urea nitrogen appearance (UNA), anthropometric indexes, and growth velocity in 14 pediatric patients with a renal transplant. Nb improved significantly (P = 0.02) and was accompanied by a decrease of UNA. A significant improvement was observed also in mid-arm muscle circumference (P = 0.002), arm muscle are (P = 0.001), and arm fat are (P = 0.017). Growth velocity increased in prepubertal patients (P = 0.003). Creatinine clearance and the number of rejection episodes were not affected by rhGH treatment. In conclusion, short-term administration of rhGH improves Nb and UNA as well as the main indexes of body composition.
Ghio
L
L
2nd Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, Italy.
Colombo
D
D
Edefonti
A
A
Picca
M
M
Loi
S
S
Grassi
M R
MR
Marchesi
F
F
Damiani
B
B
Oppizzi
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen