Kidney growth and renal functions under the growth hormone replacement therapy in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the kidney growth and renal functions in children receiving recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment.


METHODS
A total of 37 children who received rhGH for 1.5 years before the study was started and 48 healthy controls were included at first evaluation. Hormone levels were determined and kidney sizes were measured by ultrasound. Kidney functions were assessed by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). After 3 years of first evaluation, 23 patients were re-assessed.


RESULTS
Kidney sizes were found to be lower in rhGH received children compared with controls at first evaluation (p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between anthropometric measurements and kidney length and kidney volume (p<0.05). Height was the most significant predictor of kidney volume in rhGH received children (p<0.001). After 3-years of follow-up significantly increases were found in kidney length and volume compared with the first measurements (p<0.05). Increase percentage of body height was similar to increasing percent of kidney length and liver long axis (14.2%, 11.7.1% and 7.7%, respectively, p>0.05). Although no abnormal renal function test results were found at first and second evaluations; rhGH received children had significantly lower eGFR, at first evaluation, compared with controls; however, renal functions significantly increased after 3 years of follow-up (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, effect rhGH treatment on kidney growth is parallel to growth in body height and other visceral organs. A 3-years rhGH treatment resulted in significant increases in renal functions.
Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University School of Medicine , Diyarbakır , Turkey .
Aydın
A
Ece
Semra
S
Çetinkaya
Seçil
S
Ekşioğlu
Saliha
S
Şenel
Serdar
S
Özkasap
Tayfur
T
Giniş
Velat
V
Sen
Cahit
C
Şahin
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000172:deficiency; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013972:Thyrotropin; D003404:Creatinine