title: Dynamics of body composition and bone in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with growth hormone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  GH has a positive impact on growth, bone, and muscle development. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate the effects of GH treatment on regional body composition and bone geometry at final height in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this longitudinal study, parameters of bone mineral density and geometry as well as muscle and fat cross-sectional area (CSA) in the nondominant forearm were recorded using peripheral quantitative computed tomography at yearly intervals until final height in 12 patients (seven females) receiving GH treatment. Data at final height were compared with 13 patients (nine females) with JIA not treated with GH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were treated with GH for a mean of 5.35 +/- 0.7 yr. Correcting for height, total bone CSA (+0.89 +/- 0.5 sd) and muscle CSA (+1.14 +/- 0.6 sd) increased significantly and normalized at final height. Compared with JIA patients without GH at final height, there was a significantly higher muscle CSA and a lower fat CSA in GH-treated patients. Additionally, in relation to total bone CSA, there was significantly more cortical and less marrow CSA in boys with GH treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During GH treatment, there was a significant increase and normalization of total bone and muscle CSA at final height. In accordance with an anabolic effect of GH, fat mass stabilized at the lower limit of healthy children. At final height, cortical and marrow CSA, relative to total bone CSA, were normalized in GH-treated patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University Children's Hospital, D-80337 Munich, Germany. Susanne.Bechtold@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bechtold
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripperger
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalla Pozza
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Häfner
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michels
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone