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Five‐years growth hormone (GH) treatment in adults with Prader‐Willi syndrome
Author(s) -
Höybye Charlotte
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2006.00051.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lean body mass , concomitant , growth hormone , cohort , endocrinology , observational study , cohort study , body mass index , hormone , growth hormone treatment , body weight , pediatrics
Aim: We have previously shown that 1 year of growth hormone (GH) treatment to adults with Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) has beneficial effects on body composition. The aim of the present observational study was to re‐evaluate our cohort, with focus on long‐term GH treatment. Methods: Seven men and seven women, median age 31 years, were available for follow‐up for 6 years. Nine were on GH treatment for 5 years. Body composition was measured with Dual Energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: In six GH treated patients with genetically verified PWS there was a substantial increase in lean body mass of 5 kg (p = 0.031) and a concomitant, however, non‐significant, decrease in body fat of 5% (p = 0.156). The changes in the genetically verified patients without GH treatment were small and unsystematic. No compliance problems were reported. Only one non‐GH‐treated woman developed overt diabetes. Conclusion: Despite inherent behavioural problems it was possible to continue GH injections for 5 years with sustained favourable effects on body composition without clinically, significant side effects.