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Growth hormone (GH) deficiency in patients with β-thalassemia major and the efficacy of recombinant GH treatment

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Abstract

Patients with β-thalassemia major still suffer growth retardation. After excluding patients with cortisol deficiency, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, delayed puberty, malnutrition, severe congestive heart failure, and severely impaired liver function, 29 patients were enrolled in this study. Fifteen (52%) patients exhibited growth retardation and underwent two growth hormone (GH) provocation tests. Eight (53%) of the 15 patients had GH deficiency and were subsequently treated with subcutaneous recombinant human GH (Genotropin, Pharmacia Corporation, Sweden). Growth velocity increased from the pretreatment rate of 3.1±0.4 cm/year to 7.1±1.6 cm/yr (p<0.001) after 1 year and to 6.8±1.3 cm/year (p<0.001) after 2 years. Patients with growth retardation had lower insulin like growth factor-1 (p=0.001) and insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (p=0.003) levels than those without growth retardation. In patients with β-thalassemia major, growth retardation is a common complication and GH deficiency plays an important role. Thalassemic patients with GH deficiency can safely increase their growth velocity with recombinant human GH for2 years; however, the effect on final height still needs to be determined.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Miss Tsai-Chung Li, a teacher at the institute of Chinese Medicine at the China Medical College in Taichung, for her statistical assistance and interpretation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, China Medical College Hospital, 2 Yuh-Der Road, 404, Taichung, Taiwan

    K. H. Wu, F. J. Tsai & C. T. Peng

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  1. K. H. Wu
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  2. F. J. Tsai
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  3. C. T. Peng
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Correspondence to C. T. Peng.

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Wu, K.H., Tsai, F.J. & Peng, C.T. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency in patients with β-thalassemia major and the efficacy of recombinant GH treatment. Ann Hematol 82, 637–640 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-003-0712-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-003-0712-3

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