Changes in body composition during 12 months after discontinuation of growth hormone therapy in young adults with growth hormone deficiency from childhood

Little is known about the velocity of changes in body composition after discontinuation of GH therapy at final height. The aim of this study was to describe the changes of fat distribution in male and female GH deficient young adults during the first year after discontinuation of GH therapy. Ten Dutch GH deficient young adults who had reached final height were retested and confirmed to be still GH deficient. These preliminary results demonstrate that the greatest gain in subcutaneous fat, measured by skinfold thickness, was observed in the first 3 months after GH withdrawal. Intra-abdominal fat was measured by CT scan at 0 and 12 months study time. The mean gain in intra-abdominal fat after 12 months was dramatically high (48%). We conclude that the subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat mass increased dramatically in young GH deficient Dutch adults with GH deficiency, after discontinuation of therapy, especially in the first three months. This indicates that GH therapy should be restarted as soon as possible, after reconfirming the diagnosis of GH deficiency in adults. This will reduce the risk for these patients of diseases associated with overweight, such as cardiovascular diseases.