Effects of growth hormone treatment on left ventricular dimensions in children with Noonan's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment on left ventricular (LV) dimensions in children with Noonan's syndrome (NS).


METHODS
Echocardiographic measurements of LV dimensions were performed before and during GH treatment in 27 participants (21 boys, 6 girls) in a partly controlled 3-year trial of high-dose GH treatment (0.15 IU/kg/day). Nineteen children had a congenital heart defect, 1 of them had hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. In the first 3 years, the children were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: group A with discontinuation of GH treatment in the 3rd year, or group B without GH treatment in the 1st year. After the 3rd year, 12 of the 27 children were followed up for 2 additional years to evaluate the long-term effects of GH treatment on the heart.


RESULTS
At baseline, LV internal diameters were smaller, while posterior wall thickness were thicker than normal. Over the 1st year, changes in LV dimensions were comparable between the 2 groups. No significant differences were found in LV dimensions between the situation at baseline and after 4 years of GH treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term high-dose GH treatment does not have clinically significant adverse effects on LV dimensions in children with NS.
Noordam
C
C
Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. C.Noordam@ckskg.azn.nl
Draaisma
J M
JM
van den Nieuwenhof
J
J
van der Burgt
I
I
Otten
B J
BJ
Daniels
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009634:Noonan Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013006:Growth Hormone