title: Recombinant human growth hormone therapy in malnourished dialysis patients: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; Saizen, Serono, Spain) has been recently used as an anabolic agent in several catabolic states, including malnourished chronic dialysis patients. However, up-to-date, comparative studies with control groups of dialysis patients have not been reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of rhGH on nutritional status in a group of malnourished adult chronic dialysis patients undergoing both continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD). The patients were randomly assigned to the control group (nine patients; 6 women, 3 men; mean age, 58.3 +/- 5.6 years; seven undergoing CAPD, two undergoing HD) or the rhGH group (eight patients; three women, five men; mean age, 63.9 +/- 3.1 years; four undergoing CAPD, four undergoing HD). Both groups were similar at baseline. All patients were given dietary prescriptions (35 kcal/kg/d and 1 g protein/kg ideal body weight/d) during 4 weeks. In the rhGH group, rhGH was administered at 0.2 IU/kg/d subcutaneously (SC) during this period. Anthropometric and analytic parameters were assessed before (0 weeks) therapy and at 2 and 4 weeks after starting therapy. The rhGH group showed an increase of 1.238 kg in body weight from 64.3 +/- 4.3 (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM]) to 65.6 +/- 4.9 kg (P < 0.05). Serum insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) concentrations increased from 216.6 +/- 42.5 to 581.2 +/- 171.5 ng/mL (4 weeks; P < 0.01) and transferrin levels increased from 271.2 +/- 16.3 to 314.5 +/- 21.2 mg/dL (4 weeks; P < 0.05). A significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was observed (62.1 +/- 1.8 v 46.8 +/- 3.8 mg/dL; 4 weeks; P < 0.05). Mean daily protein intake, determined by individual dietary survey, at 0 and 4 weeks, remained constant in both groups. In conclusion, weight gain and IGF-1 and transferrin level increases and BUN level decreases, despite the constant oral intake, suggest that short-term rhGH administration is associated with an anabolic reaction in malnourished dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernández-Reyes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgués
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ara
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selgas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone