Growth hormone treatment and fat redistribution in children born small for gestational age.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether in children born small for gestational age (SGA) high-dose growth hormone (GH) treatment is not only associated with catch-up of growth and with gain of lean mass, but also with a more central fat distribution.


METHODS
Short children who were SGA (n = 25; age [mean +/- SD], 5.3 +/- 1.5 years) were randomly assigned to remain untreated (n = 14) or to receive GH (n = 11; sc 66 mug/Kg/d). Growth status and body composition were assessed at the study's start, after 1 year, and after 2 years with anthropometry and absorptiometry.


RESULTS
Children who were treated with GH gained more height and weight than children who were untreated and developed a less adipose body composition (all P < .0001), as expected. However, these changes were also accompanied by a relatively more centripetal distribution of fat mass (0-2 year change in ratio of trunk fat to limb fat; 0.26 +/- 0.23 versus 0.02 +/- 0.15; P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In children who are SGA, catch-up growth induced by exogenous GH in high doses is accompanied by a less adipose body composition and a more central fat distribution.
De Schepper
Jean
J
Belgian Study Group for Pediatric Endocrinology and the Departments of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Brussel, Mont Godinne, Gent, Louvain, Leuven, Belgium.
Thomas
Muriel
M
Beckers
Dominique
D
Craen
Margarita
M
Maes
Marc
M
de Zegher
Francis
F
D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019382:Human Growth Hormone