[Growth and the assessment of body composition in children treated with the growth hormone].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present work was to analyze the variations in corporal composition of children treated with growth hormone.


METHODS
Nineteen patients, 8 girls and 11 boys, with growth retardation were studied. The mean age of these children was 8.6 years with a range of 4 to 13 years. Growth hormone (GH) secretion was evaluated by using clonidine and insulin stimulation to evaluate the presence of classic and partial deficits of GH. The integrated 24-hour GH concentration was evaluated in the children with neurosecretory dysfunction of GH and with biologically inactive GH. IGF-I and IGFBP3 levels were also studied. Bio-electric impedance was measured with a corporal composition analyzer (Maltron BF 905). The software used, taking into account the weight and height of the children and employing Lukaski's equation, give the following information: impedance in Ohms, Lean mass and fat mass in percentage and Kg, corporal water in liters and percentage, basal metabolism, ideal water and ideal fat. The auxological data were obtained with precision instruments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if differences existed between the parameters studied at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment. The correlation between the resistance index and total corporal water was calculated, as well as between tricipital skinfold thickness and corporal fat.


RESULTS
The patients experienced an increase in lean mass (not significant = NS), an increase in corporal water (p < 0.01), a decrease in the percentage of fat (NS), a decrease in tricipital and subscapular skinfolds (p < 0.05 and NS, respectively), an increase in the perimeter of the arm muscle (NS), an increase in basic metabolism (NS) and a decrease in electrical impedance (NS). The resistance index had a linear relationship with total body water (r = 0.9) and tricipital skinfold with corporal fat (r = 0.8).
Marco Hernández
M
M
Hospital Militar Gómez Ulla, Unidad de Crecimiento, Madrid.
Méndez Fernández
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D013997:Time Factors
D019382:Human Growth Hormone
Crecimiento y valoración de la composición corporal en niños tratados con hormona de crecimiento.