title: Predictors of the effects of 4 years of growth hormone replacement on bone mineral density in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency - a KIMS database analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth hormone (GH) replacement may increase bone mineral density (BMD) in GH-deficient (GHD) adults. The goal of this study was to identify predictors of BMD response to GH replacement in GH naïve adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis of data extracted from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database), an international pharmacoepidemiological survey of adult GHD patients from 31 countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 231 GH naive adults were identified (115 women and 116 men) who had BMD measured on the same densitometer in the lumbar spine (LS) and/or femoral neck (FN) both at baseline and after 4 years of GH replacement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 years, there was a median (10th, 90th percentile) 4·6% (-5·2%, 12·2%) increase in LS BMD over baseline (P = 0·0001). There was a positive correlation between per cent change in LS BMD and age at the onset of pituitary disease (r = 0·25, P = 0·001). There was no change in FN BMD over baseline [0·0% (-7·3%, 8·5%)]. On multivariate analysis, older age at the onset of pituitary disease predicted a greater increase in LS BMD on GH replacement (r = 0·55, P < 0·0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a population of GH naïve adults, GH replacement led to a significant increase in LS BMD over baseline, but no change in FN BMD. The potential for greater BMD improvement on GH replacement therapy in adults with disease of later onset should be considered when making treatment decisions in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. ntritos@partners.org
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Tritos
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hamrahian
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koltowska-Häggstrom
authors.forename: Beverly M K
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Biller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015519:Bone Density; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone