Response of growth and IGF-I to the growth hormone therapy on the pituitary dwarfs

Abstract

Purpose: This study was made to assess the response of growth to the growth hormone with the velocity and scores of height growth, to compare these findings with familial short stature and to examine the correlation between the IGF-I reaction and the dose of growth hormone, height velocity and scores. Methods:The study group consisted of 9 patients with pituitary dwarfism who were followed up between 1986 and 1996 periods and given growth hormone treatment. Serum growth hormone and insuline-like growth factor-I were measured by using immunoradiometric method(IRMA-GH-DSL and IRMA-IGF-I-DSL kits). The results were compared with 9 familial short stature and 9 healthy controls. Results:The patients with growth hormone deficiency got benefit of growth hormone therapy, and the levels of height, height SDS, height velocity and height velocity SDS were increased. The height SDS levels according to familial short stature and control groups were found lower and in correspondence to this the height losses were found high. Correlation was found between the serum IGF-I levels and pubertal periods when the three groups (pituitary dwarfism, familial short stature and control) were evaluated together. Correlation was not found between the basic and stimulated growth hormone levels and isochronal serum IGF-I levels which were recorded after quiting the therapy for one month. Relation was not recorded between the total GH dose given by higher and daily injections for 4 days and the serum IGF-I levels which were recorded on the fourth day, too. But it was observed that these IGF-I levels increased significant degrees according to the basic and stimulated measure of serum IGF-I levels. Conclusion: In this study it was shown that the values of height, height SDS, height velocity and height velocity SDS belonging to the cases of growth hormone deficiency had significantly increased and the levels of IGF-I had increased as a response to the therapy.