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Effectiveness of rhGH treatment on final height of renal-transplant recipients in childhood

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Abstract

Background

Growth retardation is a considerable clinical problem in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Optimization of metabolic and nutritional parameters does not always lead to improved growth. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment has been used to improve height. Several studies in the literature have shown increased growth velocity, although data on the final height (FH) reached are scarce.

Aims

We assessed the effect of rhGH on FH standard deviation score (SDS) in children with CKD following renal transplantation (RTx), comparing it with patients who did not receive rhGH (control group) but were treated with the same protocol and followed up in a single Center.

Methods

Thirty-three patients received rhGH treatment until FH. Fourteen who refused rhGH therapy were included in the controls. Prognostic factors for FH and changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) during follow-up were also analyzed

Results

FH SDS in rhGH-treated patients was significantly higher than in controls (−1.88 ± 1.14 vs −3.48 ± 1.19 SDS, respectively, p <0.05). In both groups, a similar reduction in GFR was observed. Height (SDS) at onset of rhGH treatment was the only statistically significant variable useful to predict response to treatment (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings confirm that rhGH is effective to improve FH in CKD RTx patients, without affecting kidney function.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnologica (FONCYT), Argentina

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Hospital de Pediatria Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvia Gil, Elisa Vaiani, Gabriela Guercio, Marta Ciaccio, Marco A. Rivarola & Alicia Belgorosky

  2. Department of Nephrology, Hospital de Pediatria Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Amalia Turconi & Norma Delgado

  3. Endocrinology Service, Hospital de Pediatria Garrahan, C. de los Pozos 1881, Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1245AAM

    Alicia Belgorosky

Authors
  1. Silvia Gil
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  2. Elisa Vaiani
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  3. Gabriela Guercio
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  4. Marta Ciaccio
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  5. Amalia Turconi
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  6. Norma Delgado
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  7. Marco A. Rivarola
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  8. Alicia Belgorosky
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alicia Belgorosky.

Additional information

Elisa Vaiani and Gabriela Guercio share second authorship of the article

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Gil, S., Vaiani, E., Guercio, G. et al. Effectiveness of rhGH treatment on final height of renal-transplant recipients in childhood. Pediatr Nephrol 27, 1005–1009 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-011-2090-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-011-2090-8

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