Catch-up growth and endocrine changes in childhood celiac disease. Endocrine changes during catch-up growth.
Childhood celiac disease may lead to a failure of statural growth. After institution of a gluten-free diet most patients exhibit catch-up growth. Catch-up growth is a remarkable phenomenon characterized by a supranormal height velocity. One of the hypothetical mechanisms of catch-up growth is that an increased activity of the somatotrophic axis is involved. In order to provide further insight in the physiology of catch-up growth, auxological and endocrine changes were prospectively studied in 28 children with newly diagnosed celiac disease. The results demonstrate a malnutrition-like state of the somatotrophic axis at the time of diagnosis and a rapid recovery of this axis towards normal functioning after institution of the gluten-free diet. Although several correlations between these endocrine alterations and auxological parameters were detected, it is questionable whether the endocrine changes are the driving force behind catch-up growth.
Boersma
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. b.boersma@mca.nl
Houwen
R H J
RH
Blum
W F
WF
van Doorn
J
J
Wit
J M
JM
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000097:blood; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D005983:Glutens; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein