GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT IN CHILDREN AFTER CRANIAL TRRADIATION

Abstract

Growth response to treatment with GH 0,1 IU/kg s.c.x7 (Crescormon later changed to Somatonorm) was evaluated in 9 prepubertal children who had received cranial irradiation mean 4 years before when treated for a cranial tumor (braintumor, retinoblastoma or rhabdomyosarcoma of the epipharynx). The children were totally GH-deficient or with subnormal GH-secretion based on provocative tests. All had a markedly disturbed 24-h-GH-profile. No other hormonal deficits were present at the start of GH-treatment. During the first year on GH-treatment a catch up in growth volocity was seen with an increment from mean 3 cm/year to 8,5 cm/ year (mean -2,2 SDS to +3,5 SDS). During the second year growth velocity decreased somewhat but still remained at an increased speed corresponding to +1,9 SDS. The actual mean height of the children increased from -1,6 SD to -0,4 SD after two years treatment .

The increment in growth in these children corresponds well with that seen in partially GH-deficient children of other etiology and is somewhat less than catch up growth seen in totally GH-deficient children. Our results are however better than previously reported for irradiated children. This might be due to the higher dose and frequency of GH-administration in this study.

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