Effects of growth hormone treatment on height, weight, and obesity in Taiwanese patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Information regarding the efficacy of growth hormone (GH) therapy in Asian Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patients is lacking. We report our experience with GH treatment in children with PWS in Taiwan.


METHODS
Forty-six PWS patients (27 males, 19 females; age range, 1 year 4 months to 13 years 7 months) who received and/or who are currently receiving GH treatment (0.1 IU/kg/day subcutaneously) for a period from 1 year to 3 years were retrospectively analyzed. We evaluated height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and Rohrer index, before and after GH treatment.


RESULTS
After patients had received GH for 1, 2 and 3 years, a significant improvement in mean height standard deviation score (SDS) was noted from -1.24 to -0.31 (p < 0.01), 0.00 (p < 0.001) and -0.26 (p < 0.001), respectively. Mean BMI SDS decreased significantly from 1.93 to 1.13 (p < 0.05) after 1 year of treatment; however, no significant changes were observed afterward. Mean Rohrer index decreased significantly, from 224.2 to 186.6 (p < 0.001), 178.9 (p < 0.001) and 169.3 (p < 0.001). No significant gender or genotype pattern differences were noted among the 4 parameters examined.


CONCLUSIONS
This 3-year, retrospective study indicates that PWS patients benefit from GH therapy in height increase and improved body composition.
Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Hsiang-Yu
HY
Lin
Shuan-Pei
SP
Lin
Li-Ping
LP
Tsai
Mei-Chyn
MC
Chao
Ming-Ren
MR
Chen
Chih-Kuang
CK
Chuang
Chi-Yu
CY
Huang
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
I-Ching
IC
Chou
Pao-Ching
PC
Chiu
Cheng-Hung
CH
Huang
Jui-Lung
JL
Yen
Ju-Li
JL
Lin
Pao-Lin
PL
Kuo
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019382:Human Growth Hormone