title: [Homocysteine levels in growth hormone deficient children and adolescents before and after one year of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy].
abstract: Growth hormone deficiency is connected with the premature development of the cardiovascular system diseases, increased mortality due to the circulatory system diseases and the early development of atherosclerosis. An increased concentration of homocysteine is recognized as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of substitution rhGH therapy on homocysteine concentration in children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency. The study included patients with growth hormone deficiency diagnosed recently and qualified for rhGH replacement therapy. A total of 25 patients (10 girls and 15 boys) aged 8.1-16.9 years (mean 13.3+/-1.8 years), height 1.15-1.61 m (mean 1.4+/-0.1 m), body area 0.84-1.47 m(2) (mean 1.14+/-0.18 m(2)) were examined. Twenty two healthy and slim children (11 girls and 11 boys) aged 6.6-16 years (mean 12.6+/-2.7 years), height 1.33-1.8 m (mean 1.58+/-0.16), body area 0.93-1.8 m(2) (mean 1.38+/-0.3 m(2)) with a family history without atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases constituted controls. Homocysteine concentration was determined by means of immunoenzymatic method using Axis R Homocysteine kits of BioRad firm. Homocysteine concentration in children with GH deficiency did not differ significantly in comparison with controls (8.53+/-2.38 vs 8.48+/-2.13 mg/dl). After a year-rh GH therapy, mean homocysteine concentration was significantly lower than in controls (7.52+/-2.12 vs 8.48+/-2.13 mg/dl p<0.05). A significant decrease in homocysteine concentration after GH therapy was proved in comparison with the initial values in this group (7.52+/-2.12 vs 8.53+/-2.28 mg/dl).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. rhGH replacement therapy causes a significant decrease in homocysteine concentration in children with GH deficiency. 2. Homocysteine concentration in children with GH deficiency is one of the factors inducing vessel endothelial damage and further biological consequences.
authors.affiliation: II Klinika Chorób Dzieci AM w Białymstoku, Białystok, Poland. jkostro@hoga.pl
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szczepańska
authors.forename: Mirosława
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Głowińska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006710:Homocysteine; D019382:Human Growth Hormone