title: Growth hormone therapy in neonatal patients with methylmalonic acidemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information regarding growth hormone (GH) therapy in neonatal patients with methylmalonic academia (MMA) is lacking. We present our experience with GH therapy in neonatal patients with MMA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four neonatal patients with mut 0 type MMA were identified through newborn screening for elevated propionylcarnitine (C3) levels. GH therapy (0.6 IU/kg/week, subcutaneously) was prescribed for patient 1 after 1 month of admission, and was prescribed for patients 2, 3 and 4 on the 1st day of admission. We evaluated weight, skin erosion, hospital stay, and serum levels of C3 after GH therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the neonatal patients with MMA displayed obvious weight gain and distinct improvement in skin erosions after GH therapy. The duration of hospital stay for patients 2, 3 and 4 was reduced compared to that of patient 1. However, the metabolic effects of GH therapy on reducing serum levels of C3 seem to be indeterminate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our clinical findings suggest that GH therapy has potentially beneficial effects on neonatal patients with MMA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chuan-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Mei-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tze-Tze
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kwang-Jen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Kang-Hsiang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dau-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Niu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid