title: Thyroid function during the first year of recombinant human growth hormone therapy in short stature children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between rhGH treatment and thyroid function has been the subject of numerous studies. Some say that rhGH treatment unmasks central hypothyroidism, other say that rhGH induces subclinical primary hypothyroidism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the changes in thyroid function in short stature children in the first year of treatment with rhGH and the impact on growth velocity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 37 patients treated with rhGH, 5 were excluded because developed side effects during treatment. We measured height, height velocity, and height standard deviation gain during treatment and thyroid function during the first year of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a slight increase in the TSH level and no significant change in the f T4 level after the first 3-6 months of treatment in all the groups; in GH deficiency (GHD) patients, we observed a statistically significant decrease of the f T4 level after the first 3-6 months, without a significant increase of the TSH level. After the first year, thyroid function returned to baseline. There were no differences between height velocities in all the groups, except from the GHD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The slight increase in the TSH level and the decrease of f T4 level might unmask a transient subclinical primary hypothyroidism but these changes do not influence the growth velocity in first year of rhGH treatment.
authors: Oana-Maria
authors: OM
authors: Căpraru
authors: Ionela M
authors: IM
authors: Paşcanu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine