Effects of Growth Hormone Therapy in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Shin, Hye Jung; Kim, Duk Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE: Growth hormone(GH) has not only growth promoting effect but also various metabolic effects. We evaluated GH effects by anthrometric data, biochmical data, electrolytes and simple CT in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.
METHODS
Nine children with Prader-Willi syndrome(PWS) were studied. The children were treated with GH(0.6U/kg/week) for 6 months. Before and after therapy we measured height, weight, waist, hip, and thigh. Blood sampling for eletrolytes, HgA1C, lipid profiles and other biochemistry were done in all patients before and after therapy. We also compared fat distribution with scan.
RESULTS
Height standard deviation (SD) score increased from -0.7 to -0.5 and weight SD score decreased from 5.3 to 4.9. Body mass index(BMI) decreased from 28.2kg/m2 to 27.2kg/m2. But the changes in height, weight and BMI were not significant statistically. The waist/hip ratio decreased from 1.04 to 0.97(P<0.05), Thigh circumference had been decreased from 58.2+/-21.7cm to 49.9+/-6.9cm insignificantly. The visceral fat were decreased from 7,613+/-1,760 to 5,022+/-1,533 after GH therapy, and thigh muscle mass was increased from 6,358+/-1,616 to 7,175+/-2,155 (P<0.05). Total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased and HDL cholesterol increased after therapy although they were insignificant statistically. There were no differences in electrolytes, HgA1C, other biochemistry(Ca, P, protein, albumin, BUN, Cr) before and after therapy.
CONCLUSION
In children with PWS, waist/hip ratio and fat mass were reduced and muscle mass was increased after GH therapy. There was tendency that total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased and HDL cholesterol increased after therapy. We confirmed that GH therapy had not only growth promoting effect but also metabolic effect on lipid and protein metabolism in children with PWS.