title: Short-term changes in bone formation markers following growth hormone (GH) treatment in short prepubertal children with a broad range of GH secretion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth hormone (GH) promotes longitudinal growth and bone modelling/remodelling. This study investigated the relationship between levels of bone formation markers and growth during GH treatment in prepubertal children with widely ranging GH secretion levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 113 short prepubertal children (mean age ± SD, 9·37 ± 2·13 years; 99 boys) on GH treatment (33·0 ± 0·06 μg/kg/day) for 1 year. Blood samples were taken at baseline and 1 and 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months, and 1 year after treatment start. Intact amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin were measured using an automated IDS-iSYS immunoassay system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intact amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), BALP and osteocalcin, increased in the short-term during GH treatment. PINP after 1 week (P = 0·00077), and BALP and osteocalcin after 1 month (P < 0·0001 and P = 0·0043, respectively). PINP levels at 1 and 3 months correlated positively, and osteocalcin levels at 1 week and percentage change after 1 month correlated negatively, with first year growth response. No significant correlations were found between BALP and first year growth. Multiple regression analysis showed that bone marker levels together with auxological data and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 explained the variation in first year growth response to 36% at start, 32% after 2 weeks and 48% at 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term increases in levels of the bone formation markers PINP, BALP and osteocalcin showed different temporal patterns, but all correlated with first year growth response during GH treatment. These markers may be a useful addition to existing prediction models for growth response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swolin-Eide
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albertsson-Wikland
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C047202:procollagen Type I N-terminal peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase