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Renal effects of growth hormone. I. Renal function and kidney growth

Pediatric Nephrology volume 6, pages 394–398 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) affects renal function and kidney growth. Pituitary-derived or recombinant human GH (rhGH), acting via insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) in GH-deficient as well as in normal adults. Furthermore, GFR and RPF are low in hypopituitarism and elevated in acromegaly. These effects of GH on GFR and RPF have not been demonstrated in moderate renal insufficiency. IGF-1 is implicated in compensatory renal hypertrophy. Markedly elevated levels of serum GH accelerate glomerular sclerosis in rodents, although the significance of these findings for GH treatment in humans is uncertain. rhGH therapy offers great promise to children with short stature from various aetiologies. Preliminary report on the use of rhGH in children with renal disease and after renal transplantation have not shown any consistent change in kidney function, although follow-up times are short. The long-term impact of rhGH therapy on kidney function in short children needs further evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick, 2031, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Graham D. Ogle, Andrew R. Rosenberg & Gad Kainer

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  1. Graham D. Ogle
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  2. Andrew R. Rosenberg
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  3. Gad Kainer
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Part II of this review will be published in Pediatr Nephrol (1992) Volume 6, Number 5

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Ogle, G.D., Rosenberg, A.R. & Kainer, G. Renal effects of growth hormone. I. Renal function and kidney growth. Pediatr Nephrol 6, 394–398 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869745

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869745

Key words

  • Growth hormone
  • Insulin-like growth factor-1
  • Glomerular filtration rate
  • Renal plasma flow
  • Renal hypertrophy