Screening for growth hormone deficiency using urinary growth hormone measurement

The diagnostic approach in growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is complicated. Two or more provocative tests are essential for definitive diagnosis of GHD. However, such testing cannot be carried out routinely on all subjects with short stature because of the need for hospitalization and blood sampling. A simple screening method for GHD would be of great value. Human growth hormone (hGH) levels were measured in the early morning urine of 192 children aged 7–15 years with height 2.0 s.d. below the mean for their ages. Sixty-eight subjects were selected because they showed a urinary hGH level < 10 ng/g creatinine. They were further examined in terms of bone age and plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) levels. In 30 subjects, the ratio of bone age: chronological age was < 0.8 and/or plasma IGF-I level was < 0.7 U/mL. Finally 24 of these subjects were examined with provocative tests and other endocrinological tests. Eleven subjects proved to have poor growth hormone secretion and one subject was diagnosed as having Turner syndrome. In conclusion, 11 patients with GHD were diagnosed from 192 children with short stature using urinary hGH measurement as the first screening method. These findings suggests that urinary hGH measurement could be a useful and simple method for detecting GHD.     

Comparison of growth hormone releasing hormone therapy and growth hormone therapy in growth hormone deficiency

Seven children with growth hormone deficiency of hypothalamic origin responded to an i.v. bolus of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) (1–29)-NH2 with a mean serum increase of 10.7 ng/ml growth hormone (GH) (range 2.5–29.3 ng/ml). Continuous s.c. administration of GHRH of 4–6 g/kg twice daily for at least 6 months did not improve the growth rate in five of the patients. One patient increased his growth rate from 1.9 to 3.8 cm/year and another from 3.5 to 8.2 cm/year; however, the growth rate of the latter patient then decreased to 5.4 cm/year. When treatment was changed to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in a dose of 2 U/m² daily, given s.c. at bedtime, the growth rate improved in all patients to a mean of 8.5 cm/year (range: 6.2 to 14.6). Presently GHRH cannot be recommended for the routine therapy of children with growth hormone deficiency since a single daily dose of rhGH produced catch-up growth which GHRH therapy did not.Abbreviations GH growth hormone - GHD growth hormone deficiency - GHRH growth hormone releasing hormone - hGH human growth hormone - rhGH recombinant human growth hormone - SM C/IGF I somatomedin C/insulin-like growth factor I On the occasion of the 85th birthday of Prof. Dr.Dr.h.c. mult. Adolf Butenandt     

Prediction of growth response in prepubertal children treated with growth hormone for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency

Several multiple regression models have been developed to predict the first-year growth response to human growth hormone (hGH) in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). It was the aim of this study to analyse the significance of various growth parameters for a height prediction model. Data from 148 prepubertal children with idiopathic GHD were evaluated. The prediction model was developed by means of univariate and stepwise linear regression analysis and an “all possible” regression approach using Mallow's C(p) statistics. Six out of eight selected variables had a significant influence on the first-year growth rate. The most important parameter was the difference between target height SDS and height SDS at the start of therapy (THSDS - HSDSC0), accounting for 23.95% and 25.74% of the variability. No other single variable or combination of variables was more informative than the variable THSDS - HSDSC0 alone. From these data, growth velocity for the first year of hGH treatment was estimated as 1.106 (THSDS - HSDSC0) + 6.8 cm/y ± 2.2 cm (SE), allowing a prediction for different intervals between THSDS and HSDSC0. This equation was validated in a small group of 18 GHD patients demonstrating a predicted vs. observed first-year growth rate of 9.4 ± 1.1 vs. 9.5 ± 2.6 cm/y. We conclude that the difference between THSDS and height SDS at the start of therapy is an important predictor of the first-year growth response in children treated with hGH for idiopathic GHD. Unlike in previous studies, additional parameters did not increase predictability.     

心得安运动激发试验对儿童生长激素缺乏症的诊断价值

目的 探讨心得安运动激发试验对儿童生长激素缺乏症(GHD)的诊断价值.方法 选择在2009年1月至2013年3月期间因身材矮小症住院,同时完善胰岛素激发和心得安运动激发两项试验的儿童,共120例,记录激发试验前后静脉血GH值.将激发试验后血GH峰值<10 ng/mL定义为激发阴性,GH峰值≥10 ng/mL定义为激发阳性.将两项激发试验后血GH峰值均<10 ng/mL者诊断为GHD.结果 120例矮小儿童中,诊断为GHD者29例(24.2%).胰岛素激发试验阳性率为48.3%.心得安运动激发试验阳性率为65.8%.两项激发试验的总符合率为62.5%,阳性符合率为79.3%.心得安运动激发后血GH峰值显著高于胰岛素激发试验的GH峰值.胰岛素激发试验血GH峰值多出现在试验后30~60 min,心得安运动激发试验GH峰值多出现在试验后的120 min.心得安运动激发试验未见不良反应发生.结论 心得安运动激发试验与胰岛素激发试验对GH的激发结果符合率较高,且比胰岛素激发试验更易刺激GH分泌,临床可考虑同时应用胰岛素激发试验、心得安运动激发试验联合诊断GHD.     

Diagnostic value of growth hormone-releasing hormone test in children and adolescents with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency

Average growth hormone (GH) peaks following an i.v. growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) 1–29 stimulation test were significantly lower in 48 children and adolescents with GH deficiency (GHD) than in 20 age-matched controls (15.2+12.7 vs 37.5+28.1 ng/ml, 2P<0.001). Twelve patients exhibited a low GH peak (<5 ng/ml), 27 demonstrated a normal response (>10 ng/ml) and 9 showed an intermediate rise in plasma GH (5–10 ng/ml). Six of the 12 patients with low GH response to the first GHRH stimulation failed to respond to two other tests immediately before and after a 1 week priming with s.c. GHRH. These subjects with subnormal GH increase at repeat testing had total GHD (TGHD) and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) and had suffered from perinatal distress. On the contrary, 26 of 27 patients with normal GH response to the first test had isolated GHD and only a minority (8/27) had signs of perinatal distress. It is concluded that perinatal injuries primarily damage pituitary structures and that a pituitary defect more probably underlies more severe forms (TGHD and MPHD) of GHD.Presented in part at the 7th Meeting of the Italian Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (Milan, 20–21 October 1989)     

Crouzon综合征合并生长激素缺乏症1例报告及重组人生长激素治疗随诊

目的报告1例Crouzon综合征合并生长激素缺乏症(GHD)患儿及其重组人生长激素(rhGH)治疗结果。方法回顾分析患儿以rhGH治疗2年的临床资料。结果患儿女性,5岁4月龄时身高98.2 cm(P_3),有特殊面容(舟状头、突眼、反颌畸形等)。基因检测示FGFR2基因存在c.1061CG(p.Ser354Cys)杂合变异,源自母亲,为已知的致病变异,诊断为Crouzon综合征。同时相关检查提示患儿合并GHD。给予rhGH治疗2年,身高117 cm,平均生长速率为9.4 cm/a。治疗期间,头颅磁共振监测提示侧脑室及第三脑室略扩张等表现未进展,眼科随诊示左眼视盘水肿程度较前减轻,未发现不良反应。结论矮小可能是Crouzon综合征的表型,rhGH治疗可以改善Crouzon综合征合并GHD患儿的身高,且未引起患儿颅内压增高等不良反应。     

A review of growth hormone deficiency

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a rare but important cause of short stature in children. It is treatable. However, diagnosis is challenging and often requires referral to a specialist paediatric endocrinologist to facilitate testing and the interpretation of results. Careful history and examination with meticulous auxology data are critical components of the initial evaluation in clinic. Thereafter, further investigations are required to exclude other causes of short stature, and to establish the diagnosis. It is a highly variable condition and to an extent the clinical features depend upon the severity of GHD itself. GH stimulation tests may be indicated in the short child who is growing slowly and who has low growth factor concentrations. There is, however, no consensus with respect to a diagnostic gold standard test for GHD, and this is usually based upon a combination of clinical, biochemical, and neuroradiological data, although molecular diagnosis may aid in years to come. This short article gives an overview of the importance of GHD and offers advice on how to take a history, conduct and examination and begin investigation for a child with suspected GHD. It discusses the known benefits and potential risks of treatment and offers practical advice for the generalist.     

Effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I administration in adults with growth hormone deficiency

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), 40 μg/kg/body weight, was administered subcutaneously at 08.00 hours to six adult patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The mean maximal IGF-I concentrations were found 2–6 hours after injection. Concentrations then gradually declined, though mean values were still above basal 24 hours after the injection. Only one patient maintained IGF-I levels above the lower normal range throughout 24 hours. There was a significant decrease in mean IGF-II concentrations when measured 4 and 24 hours after injection of IGF-I. The diurnal variations of insulin and IGF binding protein-1 were preserved. There were no side-effects, and blood glucose remained normal. These results show that in patients with low IGF-I levels resulting from GHD, it is necessary to administer IGF-I at intervals of less than 24 hours to obtain IGF-I levels that are within the normal range.     

生长激素缺乏症患儿重组人生长激素治疗前、后肾上腺皮质功能的变化

目的观察生长激素缺乏症(GHD)患儿重组人生长激素(rh GH)治疗前、后肾上腺皮质功能的变化。方法选取72例确诊GHD并接受rh GH治疗6个月以上的患儿,其中32例伴促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)缺乏,回顾性分析其在接受rh GH治疗前及治疗后3、6个月时清晨空腹血皮质醇(COR)、ACTH水平的变化。结果 32例伴ACTH缺乏患儿通过外源性补充氢化可的松(HC)使COR达正常水平后,再开始rh GH治疗,治疗前COR水平和使COR达正常下限时的HC剂量呈显著负相关(r=-0.899,P0.01)。单纯HC治疗1个月后COR水平较治疗前明显增高,ACTH水平明显下降,差异均有统计学意义(P0.001);经rh GH和HC替代治疗后3、6个月后COR及ACTH水平与单纯HC治疗1个月差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。40例无ACTH缺乏患儿在rh GH治疗后COR水平显著降低,与治疗前比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01),其中10例MRI显示下丘脑-垂体异常患儿表现为COR水平低下。结论 GHD患儿在rh GH治疗过程中可出现肾上腺皮质功能减低,特别是MRI显示垂体异常的患儿,应注意监测肾上腺皮质功能,及早干预。     

Chemotherapy-induced growth hormone deficiency in children with cancer

Background. Chemotherapy (CT) may produce growth impairment, however, the pathogenesis is still unclear. Methods. A series of 25 patients mean age 13.3 years (6.3–19.8), previously treated for malignant solid tumours with only CT and surgery were studied. Growth hormone (GH) reserve was assessed by two different provocative stimuli (Clonidine and L-Dopa). Mean time between completion of treatment and GH evaluation was 18.5 months (2–74 months). At that time, all patients were in complete remission. Results. GH deficiency (GHD), defined by an impaired GH response to both provocative tests was observed in 11 out of 25 patients (44%). At diagnosis, mean standing height was +0.23 ± 1.42 SDS in the GHD group (GHD-g) and +0.18 ± 1.23 SDS in the non-GHD group (n-GHD-g). At the end of therapy, the mean standing height in the GHD-g was ?0.31 ± 1.22 SDS and ?0.17 ± 1.41 in the n-GHD-g, differing from the former group (P = 0.05). For a mean follow-up of 30 months from the end of treatment, the mean standing height was ?0.48 ± 1.23 SDS in the GHD-g and ?0.24 ± 1.51 SDS for the n-GHD-g (P = 0.03). Growth rate at the end of treatment was +0.13 ± 1.54 in the GHD-g and +0.21 ± 1.75 in the n-GHD-g. For a mean follow-up of 30 months from the end of treatment, the growth rate was different between GHD-g and n-GHD-g (?0.31 ±2.72 vs. ?0.21 ± 1.93, P < 0.05). Conclusions. 1) Growth impairment in children treated because of malignant diseases has a multifactorial etiology, but CT-induced GH deficiency is one potential adverse factor. 2) An endocrine follow-up should be introduced in order to detect and treat hormonal deficiencies as early as possible. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

生长激素缺乏症患儿垂体MRI检查的临床应用价值

目的 研究特发性生长激素缺乏症(GHD)儿童垂体MRI检查的临床应用价值,为进一步探索GHD病理机制提供临床依据.方法 选取100例2005-2007年内分泌专科就诊的GHD儿童乖体MRI资料,其中男74例,女26例;平均年龄为(8.82±3.68)岁.于SE序列T1WI头颅正中矢状及冠状面上观测垂体大小形态及信号特征,并比较其与临床的联系.结果 在10～15岁GHD患儿头颅MRI检查垂体矢状高径明显优于其他各径线(P<0.01);在联合垂体功能缺陷(MPHD)中垂体后叶异位(EPP)的发生率(92.3%)显著高于CHD(7.7%,P<0.01).结论 对GHD儿童应重视头颅MRI检查,其垂体形态、结构的阳性发现可有助于临床疾病的诊断及鉴别诊断,必要时应随访MRI,结合临床综合判断诊治及其预后.     

Changes with growth hormone treatment in growth hormone deficient children

A total of 54 previously untreated patients (15 girls, 39 boys) with poor growth due to idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) were treated with human growth hormone (hGH), continuously up to 4 years. All of the patients had a peak hGH level which was below 10 ng/mL after at least two pharmacological tests and/or blunted physiologic hGH secretion, and their height was below ?2.5 s.d. for age and gender. After the 1st year of therapy, height velocity (HV) increased significantly when compared with baseline (from 3.18 ±0.76 cm/year to 9.17±1.03 cm/year; P <0.001), declined during the 2nd year and then remained significantly higher than pretreatment HV. When considering improvement in height expressed by height standard deviation score (SDS), during the therapy all of the patients showed a significant gain ± 1.72±1.09 (from ?4.11±0.61 to ?2.21±0.48). The height values were significantly higher than pretreatment, but remained below ?2 s.d. after 4 years of hGH therapy in our patients. Increased height velocity has been sustained, but height improvement after therapy was inversely correlated to height SDS for chronological age of patients at the start of therapy. In conclusion post-treatment height has been shown to be related to height deficit at the beginning of therapy. Therapy was well tolerated with no local or systemic adverse effects or acceleration of bone age.     

TRH兴奋试验在生长激素缺乏症患儿中的意义

探讨GHD患儿下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴功能的改变。方法诊断为生长激素缺乏症患儿22例，根据GHRH兴奋试验结果分为两组：Ⅰ组为垂体性GHD（5例，GH峰值＜15μg/L；Ⅱ组为下丘脑性GHD（17例，GH峰值≥15μg/L），用GH治疗前进行TRH兴奋试验。结果两组患儿TSH、PRL对TRH刺激反应均低于正常对照组，且以Ⅰ组为著。互组与Ⅱ组垂体TSH储备或分泌功能低下发生率分别为40％和294％。Ⅰ组患儿PRL峰值与GHRH兴奋试验时GH峰值显著正相关（r＝0.8648，P＜0．05）；Ⅱ组两者呈负相关（r=-0．2576），但相关无显著性。结论GHD患儿下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴功能存在一定程度的异常。此外，ThH兴奋试验时PRL（90min）峰值及ThH（30min）峰值对GHD患儿病变部位（下丘脑或垂体）的鉴别可能有潜在的参考价植。     

生长激素治疗生长激素缺乏症时心脏结构和功能变化

目的评价用人重组生长激素（r－hGH）治疗原发性生长激素缺乏症患者时心脏结构和功能变化。方法对9例确诊为原发性生长激素缺乏患者用r－hGH治疗前后及对20例年龄、性别相匹配的正常青少年通过一维和二维心超检查。结果治疗后患儿的空间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度及心肌重量指数明显上升,与正常相比,仍有一定差异,但差异比治疗前明显缩小。结论生长激素缺乏患者心脏的结构已经受累,但功能尚未有影响,经r-hGH治疗后,心肌重量指数明显上升,提示r-hGH对改善生长激素缺乏患者心脏结构有一定作用。     

Intranasal administration of growth hormone-releasing hormone(1–29)-NH2 in children with growth hormone deficiency: effects on growth hormone secretion and growth

The growth-promoting potential of growth hormone-releasing hormone(1— 29)-NH, (GHRH(1–29)- NH,) in a new formulation for intranasal use was examined in a 6-month pilot study of eight short prepubertal children. The maximal plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH) was below 12 μg/l in two stimulation tests (arginine, insulin), but above 12 (24–90) μg/l after intravenous GHRH, 1 μglkg. GHRH, 50 μg/kg, was insufflated intranasally three times per day over 6 months. On day 1, GHRHinsufflations were followed by distinct GHRH and GH plasma peaks, ranging from 1.2 to 5.4 μg/l and from 10 to 85 mIU/l, respectively. Peak amplitudes were variably reduced after 6 weeks in most patients, and further reduced at 6 months. GHRH antibodies (initially negative) were positive in three patients after 6 weeks. The mean knemometric growth rate rose from 0.24 to 0.48 mm/week after 6 weeks of treatment ( p = 0.03) and then rapidly declined; the mean 6-month stadiometric height velocity did not increase. Local tolerance was good in one patient; most others reported sneezing immediately after insufflation, rhinorrhoea and mild mucosal burning. Treatment was discontinued in two patients after 6 and 12 weeks. It is concluded that intranasal GHRH, though non-invasive, is not suitable in its present form for use in children, because of decreasing absorption and effectiveness with concomitant development of antibodies and local reactions.     

A Japanese family with autosomal dominant growth hormone deficiency

We report a 1-year-old Japanese boy and his father with isolated growth hormone deficiency II. In both cases, a G → A transition of the first base of the donor splice site of intron 3 of the growth hormone-1 gene was detected. All unaffected family members were homozygous normal. Conclusion This is the fourth reported case of autosomal isolated growth hormone deficiency II with a G → A transition. The CG dinucleotide at the exon 3-intron 3 junction of the growth hormone-1 gene appears to be a hot spot for point mutations. Received: 1 July 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 16 December 1998     

生长激素缺乏儿童在生长激素治疗中血清瘦素水平的改变

为了观察生长激素对血清瘦素 (leptin)的影响 ,用酶联法测定33例青春期前正常儿童和12例生长激素缺乏(GHD)患儿在治疗前、治疗后血清leptin水平 ;同时观察了患儿BMI与leptin的关系。结果显示 ,正常青春期前儿童血清leptin水平为 (1.22±0.94)ng/ml;治疗前GHD患儿血清leptin水平为 (3.079±2.407)ng/ml,与对照组相比差异无显著性(P>0.05) ;GHD患儿治疗后1、3、6个月血清leptin水平分别为 (1.643±1.367)ng/ml、(1.571±1.397)ng/ml和 (1.349±0.893)ng/ml,与治疗前相比差异有显著性 (P均<0.001)。提示生长激素对leptin的表达有抑制作用     

Occurrence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in a patient with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency

We describe a case of a 15 year old boy who developed acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) while receiving treatment with human growth hormone (hGH) for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (GHD). He was diagnosed as having idiopathic GHD and given hGH from December 1991. The examination of his peripheral blood showed mild pancytopenia 2 months before the start of the hGH therapy. Since January 1992, paleness of the skin, general fatigue and fervescence progressed gradually. In February 1992, because of the occurrence of acute leukemia, administration of hGH was discontinued. Judging from the results of surface marker analysis of the blast cells, the patient was diagnosed as having AMKL. He was treated with chemotherapy for acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia from March 1992. A complete remission was obtained after 4 weeks of treatment. The chemotherapy was completed in July 1993. He remains in complete remission 26 months after diagnosis. This case suggests the importance of hematological examination and, when there is any abnormality which is not caused by GHD, such as pancytopenia, more detailed medical examinations (for example bone marrow examination) are necessary.     

Molecular study of human growth hormone gene cluster in three families with isolated growth hormone deficiency and similar phenotype

The growth hormone (GH) gene (hGH-N) cluster was analysed using polymerase chain reaction, Southern and polymorphism analysis in five patients (including two pairs of siblings) with extreme short stature and absence of GH secretion. Patients 1 and 2 (siblings) were homozygous for a large deletion removing four genes of the cluster: hGH-N, hCS-L, hCS-A and hGH-V Both siblings produced high anti-GH antibody levels in response to exogenous GH therapy, followed by growth arrest a few months after starting replacement therapy. In patient 3 we detected a heterozygous deletion which involved three genes of the cluster (hCS-A, hGH-V, hCS-B) and left an intact hGH-N gene. Direct sequencing of hGH-N specific amplified fragments excluded the presence of any point mutations in exons and splicing regions. In patients 4 and 5 (sisters) our study did not demonstrate any gene deletions. Analysis of polymorphic restriction patterns in this family demonstrated that both sisters inherited the same alleles from the father but different alleles from the mother, suggesting that the defect was not linked to the hGH-N gene. These results confirm the difficulty of clinical identification of subjects with hGH-N deletion and underline the importance of DNA analysis in patients with absence of GH secretion and extreme growth retardation.A preliminary report of these studies was presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), Zaragoza (Spain), September 6–9, 1992     

Is there heterozygote expression of growth hormone receptor deficiency?

Expression of heterozygosity for the defect in the growth hormone (GH) receptor has been proposed to be reflected in stature, and in GH binding protein (GHBP) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels in parents and other relatives of patients with GH receptor deficiency (GHRD; Laron syndrome). The Ecuadorean population with GHRD, in which heterozygosity can be accurately determined in clinically unaffected relatives of probands, offers a unique opportunity to consider this issue. It has previously been demonstrated that 17 parents heterozygous for the Ecuadorean mutation of the GH receptor differed little in biochemical measures (GHBP, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3) from Ecuadorean controls. Mean height SDS of 24 non-carrier siblings (−1.3 ± 0.95 SD) and 41 heterozygote siblings or offspring of probands (−1.8 ± 1.15) did not differ significantly ( p = 0.08). Thus, although there may be slight heterozygote expression of the defective gene for the GH receptor, there is no rationale for counselling based on such minimal variation.