Catch-up growth following transfer from three times weekly im to daily sc administration of hGH in GH deficient patients, monitored by knemometry

1985 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hermanussen ◽  
Karin Geiger-Benoit ◽  
W. G. Sippell

Abstract. A novel and non-invasive technique of growth measurement is introduced. By this method the length of the human lower leg is measured with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Thus, growth velocities can be estimated within a few weeks. In the present study the immediate changes of growth velocity are demonstrated, following the transfer of growth hormone administration from three times weekly im to daily sc in 9 growth hormone deficient children, age 7.4 to 20.5 years. The first observation period (3 times weekly im administration) ranged from 32 to 72 days, the second observation period (daily sc administration) ranged from 160 to 267 days). During the study, the total weekly dosage of growth hormone remained unchanged (12 IU/m2/week). In all 9 patients growth velocity increased significantly after the transfer of application. Mean growth velocity of the lower leg rose from 0.04 mm/day up to 0.065 mm/day. Mean growth velocity of total body height rose form 4.8 cm/year up to 6.9 cm/year. In addition, differential lower leg growth rates of 3 to 4 week periods were established in all 9 patients, revealing a significant catch-up growth spurt immediately following the transfer of application. During this spurt mean lower leg growth velocity rose form 0.04 mm/day up to 0.091 mm/day. This marked increase of lower leg growth rates lasted for only a few weeks and was followed by a period of decreased growth velocity. On the long run, growth velocity shifted upward in a wave-like pattern, stabilizing on a significantly higher level than before the transfer of application.

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
Christiane Scheffler ◽  
Barry Bogin ◽  
Michael Hermanussen

AbstractObjective:Stunting (height-for-age < −2 sd) is one of the forms of undernutrition and is frequent among children of low- and middle-income countries. But stunting perse is not a synonym of undernutrition. We investigated association between body height and indicators of energetic undernutrition at three critical thresholds for thinness used in public health: (1) BMI SDS < −2; (2) mid-upper arm circumference divided by height (MUAC (mm) × 10/height (cm) < 1·36) and (3) mean skinfold thickness (SF) < 7 mm and to question the reliability of thresholds as indicators of undernutrition.Design:Cross-sectional study; breakpoint analysis.Setting:Rural and urban regions of Indonesia and Guatemala – different socio-economic status (SES).Participants:1716 Indonesian children (6·0–13·2 years) and 3838 Guatemalan children (4·0–18·9 years) with up to 50 % stunted children.Results:When separating the regression of BMI, MUAC or SF, on height into distinguishable segments (breakpoint analysis), we failed to detect relevant associations between height, and BMI, MUAC or SF, even in the thinnest and shortest children. For BMI and SF, the breakpoint analysis either failed to reach statistical significance or distinguished at breakpoints above critical thresholds. For MUAC, the breakpoint analysis yielded negative associations between MUAC/h and height in thin individuals. Only in high SES Guatemalan children, SF and height appeared mildly associated with R2 = 0·017.Conclusions:Currently used lower thresholds of height-for-age (stunting) do not show relevant associations with anthropometric indicators of energetic undernutrition. We recommend using the catch-up growth spurt during early re-feeding instead as immediate and sensitive indicator of past undernourishment. We discuss the primacy of education and social-economic-political-emotional circumstances as responsible factors for stunting.


2000 ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Rol De Lama ◽  
A Perez-Romero ◽  
JA Tresguerres ◽  
M Hermanussen ◽  
C Ariznavarreta

OBJECTIVE: A novel non-invasive technique termed microknemometry, which allows daily leg length measurement, was used to investigate the growth promoting effect of growth hormone (GH) on peripubertal rats. We compared the effect of different patterns of recombinant human (rh) GH administration to peripubertal male rats with the effect produced by two daily administrations of the same amount of rhGH to peripubertal female rats or adult male rats. Another group of peripubertal male rats was also submitted to a 3-day period of starvation, in order to study catch-up growth during refeeding and to determine whether this process could be stimulated by exogenous GH administration. RESULTS: GH treatment was unable to stimulate tibial growth or weight gain in peripubertal males, whereas a clear growth promoting effect was observed in female rats and also in adult male rats. Starvation caused a dramatic body weight loss, and a reduction in tibial growth rate. Peripubertal male rats gained body weight faster than unstarved animals during refeeding, although recovery was not complete after nine days. Tibial growth, however, was resumed at the same speed as in normally fed males. This means that no catch-up effect was observed after refeeding in animals either with or without GH treatment. CONCLUSIONS: During peripuberty, normal male rats grow at a maximal speed that cannot be further increased by exogenous GH treatment, whereas age-matched female rats or older males grow at a slower rate than peripubertal males. Thus, exogenous rhGH administration is capable of enhancing growth velocity.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-259
Author(s):  
Richard H. Michaels ◽  
Frederic M. Kenny

Three patterns of postnatal growth were found among a group of 16 infants with congenital rubella. Most remained smaller than average during infancy but grew at a normal rate. Several showed a "catch up" phase, the growth spurt in some cases occurring at about the time of apparent termination of infection. Others had a marked postnatal deceleration in growth associated with prolonged infection. Infants of mothers with rubella during the first 8 weeks of gestation showed more stunting than those born of mothers who had had rubella after this time. Males with congenital rubella tended to have greater postnatal growth failure in both length and weight than females. There was some relationship between continued infection and the degree of postnatal growth retardation. Growth hormone assays and other endocrine studies failed to reveal a hormonal basis for the postnatal growth failure of congenital rubella. No relationship between growth retardation and pituitary, thyroid, cardiac, renal, or hepatic dysfunction was found.


1991 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Kanev ◽  
John F. Lefebvre ◽  
Richard S. Mauseth ◽  
Mitchel S. Berger

✓ The medical records of 123 patients treated for brain tumors at Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, between 1985 and 1987 were reviewed. The endocrinological complications of radiation therapy and the effectiveness of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy were assessed. These were the first 2 years after synthetic GH became available. The disease pathology was confirmed at craniotomy or biopsy in 108 patients. Ninety-five children completed radiation therapy and 65 of these were alive at the time of review; these 65 children represent the study population. The most common tumor types were medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, and ependymoma. Endocrine evaluation was initiated with changes in the patients' growth velocity. Patient workup included skeletal x-ray films for determination of bone age, and analysis of thyroxin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and somatomedin-C levels. Following l-dopa and clonidine stimulation, provocative studies of GH levels were performed. Growth hormone failure and short stature were observed in 26 children, most commonly in the 2nd year after tumor treatment. Eight patients with GH failure were also hypothyroid. Hormone replacement therapy was initiated with recombinant GH, 0.05 mg/kg/day, and all children so treated showed an increase in height, with eight patients experiencing catch-up growth. There were no complications of therapy or tumor recurrence. Studies of baseline bone age and somatomedin-C levels on completion of radiation therapy are recommended. Comprehensive endocrine studies should follow changes in the patients' growth velocity. With early GH replacement, catch-up growth is possible and normal adult heights may be achieved.


1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (3_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S85-S86
Author(s):  
Y.-F. SHI ◽  
X.-L. BAO ◽  
R. Liu ◽  
J.-Y. DENG ◽  
W. REINHARDT ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (4_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S157-S163 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.W. KASTRUP ◽  
_ _

Abstract Early therapy with a low dose of estrogen (estradiol-17β) was given to 33 girls with Turner's syndrome (T.s.) for a period of 4 years. The dose (0.25-2 mg/day) was adjusted every 3 months to maintain plasma estradiol in the normal concentration range for bone age. Growth velocity was compared with that of untreated girls with T.s. All girls were above age 10 years. Bone age was below 10 years in 11 girls (group I) and above 10 years in 22 girls (group II). Growth velocity in the first year of treatment in group I 7.5 ± 1.3 cm (SD) with mean SD score (SDS) of +4.3 and in group II 4.9 ± 1.3 with mean SDS of +3.5. Growth velocity decreased in the following years to 1.6 ± 1.0 cm, SDS -1.44 in group I and 0.9 ± 0.6cm, SDS -2.34 in group II during the fourth year. Withdrawal bleeding occurred in 16 girls of group II after the mean of 23 (range 15-33) months and in 3 girls of group I after 15 to 51 months of treatment. The treatment did not cause an inappropriate acceleration of pubertal development. Breast development appeared in most girls by 3 months of treatment. Pubic hair appeared by 12 months of treatment in group I; it was present in most girls in group II at start of treatment. Final height is known for 12 girls of group II; it was 144.2 ± 4.5 cm. The final height as predicted at the start of therapy was 142.2 ± 5.3 cm. Bone age advanced in the first year of treatment by 2 years. Early treatment with small doses of estrogens induces a growth spurt and normalizes the events of puberty. This will presumably decrease the psychological risks associated with abnormally delayed development.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-371
Author(s):  
Eleanor Colle ◽  
David Schiff ◽  
Gail Andrew ◽  
Charles B. Bauer ◽  
Pamela Fitzhardinge

Growth characteristics of 15 full-term infants, selected because of weights more than 2 SD below the mean for gestational age, are described. The response to an intravenous injection of glucose was utilized to measure the insulin response of the infants at 6 months. Infants small for gestational age grow at a faster rate than appropriate-for-age infants during the first six months of life. There was a positive correlation between the growth velocity of the period and insulin release and a negative correlation between growth velocity and birth length. There was no correlation between these variables and increases in weight during the same period. Growth velocity during catch-up growth is related to the degree of preceding retardation but insulin may play a permissive role.


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