Scientific Programme & Abstracts from the International Meeting in Pediatric Endocrinology (IMPE)
IMPE Abstracts (2023) 96 EP45

IMPE2023 ePoster Presentations GH and IGFs (4 abstracts)

The effect of growth hormone treatment on the body composition and metabolic profile in children born small for gestational age with short stature

Adriana Masiero Kühl , Rosana Marques Pereira & Marcia Regina Messaggi Gomes Dias


Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil


Introduction: Most children born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) show catch-up growth during the first 2 years of life. However, one part remains with short stature, changes in body composition (lower lean mass), and metabolic disorders. Recombinant Growth Hormone (rGH) is approved for the treatment of short stature in children born SGA. In addition to promoting catch-up growth, rGH acts on body composition and metabolic profile. Objective: This study assessed the impact of rGH therapy on the body composition of children born SGA with short stature. Methods: This was a non-randomized clinical trial, realized at the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Complex of the Hospital de Clinicas, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, which included 12 prepubertal children with short stature born SGA before rGH treatment and 9 children after 18 months of treatment (starting age 8.71±2.39y; height standard deviation score (SDS) -2.65±0.56). Total lean mass (LM), total fat mass (FM), body fat percentage (%BF), and abdominal fat (AF) were estimated by dual-energy X-Ray Dual Absorption (DXA). LM and FM were adjusted for height2 (LMI and FMI) and standardized for age and sex (SDS). The size of the adjusted impact of rGH on body composition was calculated by the Cohen test (d). Serum levels of insulin, glucose, IGF-1, and lipid profile were measured. Children were treated with rGH at a dose of 0.03 to 0.05 mg/kg/day, administered subcutaneously, once daily at bedtime. Results: There was an increase in LM adjusted for height (LMI) from 12.31±1.47 to 13.09±1.81kg/m2 (P=0,008), of the SDS LMI adjusted for the age and sex from -0.38±0.90 to 0.18±1.01SDS (P=0.007) and of the total LM (kg) from 17.15±5.0 to 22.77±7.64Kg (P<0.001). The %BF and AF didn't change when evaluated in relation to the start of treatment, but the FM (kg) increased from 3.76±2.12 to 6.10±3.92kg (P=0,033). The treatment effect was greater in LM than in the other variables (d=0.81). Among the metabolic variables, blood glucose remained within normal levels (85.0±6.93mg/dL) and there was a reduction in participants with altered cholesterol from 75% (n=9) to 66,7% (n=6) (P=0.023). Conclusion: The effect of rGH treatment was bigger in the LM than FM with increased LM adjusted to height and standardized for age and sex. Blood glucose remained normal and there was a reduction in the number of children with total cholesterol above the recommended level.

Volume 96

IMPE 2023

Buenos Aires, Argentina
04 Mar 2023 - 07 Mar 2023

International Meeting in Pediatric Endocrinology 

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