Study summary · research use only
Growth acceleration in children with chronic renal failure treated with growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).
Abstract
Growth retardation is a prominent clinical manifestation in children with chronic renal failure (CRF). Nine children with CRF (3 on conservative treatment; 3 on dialysis and 3 after renal transplantation) aged 1.6 to 14.0 (x +/- SE: 8.1 +/- 1.4) years, were treated with twice daily subcutaneous injections of 26 +/- 2.4 micrograms/kg/day growth-hormone-releasing-hormone [GHRH (1-29) NH2 Serono (Geref)] during 3 to 6 months. Mean serum urea and creatinine remained stable, although 2 patients on conservative treatment showed a moderate increase in serum creatinine. At the start of the study, height SDS was -2.2 +/- 0.2 (x +/- SE), growth velocity was 4.5 +/- 1.0 cm/year (-2.3 +/- 0.6 DS for chronological age) and growth hormone (GH) response to acute GHRH test (1 microgram/kg IV) was 62 +/- 17.5 ng/ml. Five patients increased height velocity from 3.8 +/- 0.7 to 8.0 +/- 1.2 cm/year (paired t test, p < 0.05). The peak GH response to GHRH was significantly higher in the group of growth non-responders than in the responders (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 5 out of 9 short children with CRF, 3 on conservative treatment, 1 on dialysis and 1 post renal transplantation, showed improved growth in response to GHRH therapy. No consistent effect on renal function was detected. GHRH may be an alternative therapy to increase growth velocity in patients with CRF.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source. It sells nothing and ships nothing. Where an FDA label, a peer-reviewed study or a clinical-trial registry entry (labeled trial registry, not peer-reviewed) has published a dose, pepmg reports it with the source named; it gives no personalized recommendations and no administration technique. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.