scholarly journals Laryngeal Paralysis Recovered Two Years after a Head Trauma by Growth Hormone Treatment and Neurorehabilitation

Reports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Joaquín Guerra ◽  
Hortensia Lema ◽  
Carlos Agra ◽  
Pedro Martínez ◽  
Jesús Devesa

The aim of this study was to describe the cognitive and speech results obtained after growth hormone (GH) treatment and neurorehabilitation in a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Seventeen months after the accident, the patient was treated with growth hormone (GH), together with neurostimulation and speech therapy. At admission, the flexible laryngoscopy revealed that the left vocal cord was paralyzed, in the paramedian position, a situation compatible with a recurrent nerve injury. Clinical and rehabilitation assessments revealed a prompt improvement in speech and cognitive functions and, following completion of treatment, endoscopic examination showed recovery of vocal cord mobility. These results, together with previous results from our group, indicate that GH treatment is safe and effective for helping neurorehabilitation in chronic speech impairment due to central laryngeal paralysis, as well as impaired cognitive functions.

Author(s):  
Joaquín Guerra ◽  
Hortensia Lema ◽  
Carlos Agra ◽  
Pedro Martínez ◽  
Jesús Devesa

The aim of this study is to describe the cognitive and speech results obtained after growth hormone (GH) treatment and neurorehabilitation in a man that suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). 17 months after the accident, the patient was treated with growth hormone (GH), together with neurostimulation and speech therapy. At admission, the left vocal cord revealed paralyzed, in the paramedian position, a situation compatible with a recurrent nerve injury. Clinical and rehabilitation assessments revealed a prompt improvement in speech and cognitive functions, and following completion of treatment, endoscopic examination showed recovery of vocal cord mobility. These results, together with previous results from our group, indicate that GH treatment is safe and effective for helping neurorehabilitation in chronic speech impairment due to central laryngeal paralysis, as well as impaired cognitive functions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Höybye ◽  
◽  
Anthony J. Holland ◽  
Daniel J. Driscoll

AbstractPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex, multi-system, neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by neonatal muscular hypotonia, short stature, high risk of obesity, hypogonadism, intellectual disabilities, distinct behavioural/psychiatric problems and abnormal body composition with increased body fat and a deficit of lean body mass. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and other hormone deficiencies are common due to hypothalamic dysfunction. In children with PWS GH treatment has been widely demonstrated to improve body composition, normalise height and improve psychomotor development. In adults with PWS, GH’s main effects are to maintain normal body structure and metabolism. The positive effects of GH treatment on body composition, physical fitness and beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk markers, behaviour and quality of life in adults with PWS are also well established from several studies. GH treatment is approved for treatment of children with PWS in many countries, but until recently not as a treatment in young adults in the transition period or for adults in general. In this commentary we want to draw attention to the uneven global use of GH treatment, specifically in adults with PWS, and advocate for GH treatment to be approved internationally, not just for children, but also for adults with PWS and based only on the diagnosis of genetically confirmed PWS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura van Iersel ◽  
Hanneke M. van Santen ◽  
Gladys R.J. Zandwijken ◽  
Nitash Zwaveling-Soonawala ◽  
Anita C.S. Hokken-Koelega ◽  
...  

Background: Growth hormone (GH) treatment may unmask central hypothyroidism (CeH). This was first observed in children with GH deficiency (GHD), later also in adults with GHD due to acquired “organic” pituitary disease. We hypothesized that newly diagnosed CeH in children after starting GH treatment for nonacquired, apparent isolated GHD points to congenital “organic” pituitary disease. Methods: Nationwide, retrospective cohort study including all children with nonacquired GHD between 2001 and 2011 in The Netherlands. The prevalence of CeH, hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) abnormalities, and neonatal congenital hypothyroidism screening results were evaluated. Results: Twenty-three (6.3%) of 367 children with apparent isolated GHD were prescribed LT4 for presumed CeH within 2 years after starting GH treatment. Similarly to children already diagnosed with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, 75% of these 23 had structural HP abnormalities. In children not prescribed LT4, low pre- or post-GH treatment FT4 concentrations were also associated with structural HP abnormalities. Neonatal screening results of only 4 of the 23 children could be retrieved. Conclusion: In children with nonacquired, apparent isolated GHD, a diagnosis of CeH after, or a low FT4 concentration around the start of GH treatment, is associated with congenital structural HP abnormalities, i.e., “organic” pituitary disease. Neonatal values could not be judged reliably.


1976 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert H. Dedo

Spastic dysphonia is a severe vocal disability in which a person speaks with excessively adducted vocal cords. The resulting weak phonation sounds tight, as if he were being strangled, and has also been described as laryngeal stutter. It is often accompanied by face and neck grimaces. In the past it has been regarded as psychoneurotic in origin and treated with speech therapy and psychotherapy with disappointing results. Because of laboratory and clinical observation that recurrent nerve paralysis retracts the involved vocal cord from the midline, it was proposed that deliberate section of the recurrent nerve would improve the vocal quality of patients with spastic dysphonia. In 34 patients the recurrent nerve was sectioned after Xylocaine® temporary paralysis showed significant improvement in vocal quality. Several patients have been advised against this operation because of the type of voice they developed with one vocal cord temporarily paralyzed. With nerve section plus postoperative speech therapy, approximately half of the patients have returned close to a “normal” but soft phonatory voice. The rest had varying degrees of improvement, but all, so far, have been pleased with the improvement in ease and quality of phonation and reduction or elimination of face and neck grimaces. Two men have a breathy component in their phonatory voices, and one woman has variable pitch.


1994 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Åman ◽  
Sten Rosberg ◽  
Kerstin Albertsson-Wikland

Aman J. Rosberg S, Albertsson-Wikland K. Effect of growth hormone treatment on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism in prepubertal boys with short stature. Eur Endocrinol 1994;131:246–50. ISSN 0804–4643 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism of daily growth hormone (GH) treatment, 0.1 U/kg. for up to 3 years in 42 short prepubertal boys without GH deficiency. Their median height standard deviation (sd) score increased from −2.7 to −1.7, whereas their weight for height sd score was unchanged after 3 years of treatment. Fasting plasma glucose concentrations were unchanged, but median fasting insulin concentrations increased from 6.0 mU/l before treatment to 7.8 mU/l (p < 0.05) after the first year. No further increase was seen during the second or third years. The median insulin area under the curve 10–60 min after an intravenous glucose tolerance test increased from 480 mU·1−1·min−1 before treatment to 799 mU·1−1 · min−1 (p < 0.05) after 1 year. The median glucose disposal rate (K value) before GH treatment, 2.2%/min, was unchanged after 1 year of treatment. A significant positive correlation was found between the change in the height sd score and the change in fasting insulin concentration during the first (r = 0.45; p < 0.01) and second (r = 0.56; p < 0.05) years of GH treatment. It was concluded that GH treatment in prepubertal children without GH deficiency caused a moderate increase in fasting and stimulated insulin concentrations during the first year of treatment. There was no further change during the following years of treatment, and there were no negative effects on fasting plasma glucose concentrations or glucose disposal rates. The increase in insulin concentration was related positively to the growth response. Jan Åman, Department of Pediatrics, Örebro Medical Centre Hospital, S-701 85 Örebro, Sweden


2016 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 1458-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manouk van der Steen ◽  
Rolph Pfundt ◽  
Stephan J.W.H. Maas ◽  
Willie M. Bakker-van Waarde ◽  
Roelof J. Odink ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Some children born small for gestational age (SGA) show advanced bone age (BA) maturation during growth hormone (GH) treatment. ACAN gene mutations have been described in children with short stature and advanced BA. Objective: To determine the presence of ACAN gene mutations in short SGA children with advanced BA and assess the response to GH treatment. Methods: BA assessment in 290 GH-treated SGA children. ACAN sequencing in 29 children with advanced BA ≥0.5 years compared with calendar age. Results: Four of 29 SGA children with advanced BA had an ACAN gene mutation (13.8%). Mutations were related to additional characteristics: midface hypoplasia (P = 0.003), joint problems (P = 0.010), and broad great toes (P = 0.003). Children with one or fewer additional characteristic had no mutation. Of children with two additional characteristics, 50% had a mutation. Of children with three additional characteristics, 100% had a mutation. All GH-treated children with a mutation received gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) treatment for 2 years from onset of puberty. At adult height, one girl was 5 cm taller than her mother and one boy was 8 cm taller than his father with the same ACAN gene mutation. Conclusion: This study expands the differential diagnosis of genetic variants in children born SGA and proposes a clinical scoring system for identifying subjects most likely to have an ACAN gene mutation. ACAN sequencing should be considered in children born SGA with persistent short stature, advanced BA, and midface hypoplasia, joint problems, or broad great toes. Our findings suggest that children with an ACAN gene mutation benefit from GH treatment with 2 years of GnRHa.


2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Pfäffle ◽  
Christof Land ◽  
Eckhard Schönau ◽  
Paul-Martin Holterhus ◽  
Judith L. Ross ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: To describe characteristics, auxological outcomes and safety in paediatric patients with growth disorders treated with growth hormone (GH), for cohorts from the USA, Germany and France enrolled in GeNeSIS, a post-authorisation surveillance programme. Methods: Diagnosis and biochemical measurement data were based on reporting from, and GH treatment was initiated at the discretion of, treating physicians. Auxological outcomes during the first 4 years of GH treatment and at near-adult height (NAH) were analysed. Serious and treatment-emergent adverse events were described. Results: Children in the USA (n = 9,810), Germany (n = 2,682) and France (n = 1,667) received GH (dose varied between countries), most commonly for GH deficiency. Across diagnostic groups and countries, mean height velocity standard deviation score (SDS) was > 0 and height SDS increased from baseline during the first 4 years of treatment, with greatest improvements during year 1. Most children achieved NAH within the normal range (height SDS >−2). No new or unexpected safety concerns were noted. Conclusion: GH treatment improved growth indices to a similar extent for patients in all three countries despite variations in GH doses. Data from these three countries, which together contributed > 60% of patients to GeNeSIS, indicated no new safety signals and the benefit-risk profile of GH remains unchanged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saartje Straetemans ◽  
Raoul Rooman ◽  
Jean De Schepper

ObjectiveThe first year response to growth hormone (GH) treatment is related to the total height gain in GH treated children, but an individual poor first year response is a weak predictor of a poor total GH effect in GH deficient (GHD) children. We investigated whether an underwhelming growth response after 2 years might be a better predictor of poor adult height (AH) outcome after GH treatment in GHD children.Design and methodsHeight data of GHD children treated with GH for at least 4 consecutive years of which at least two prepubertal and who attained (near) (n)AH were retrieved from the Belgian Register for GH treated children (n = 110, 63% boys). In ROC analyses, the change in height (ΔHt) SDS after the first and second GH treatment years were tested as predictors of poor AH outcome defined as: (1) nAH SDS &lt;−2.0, or (2) nAH SDS minus mid-parental height SDS &lt;−1.3, or (3) total ΔHt SDS &lt;1.0. The cut-offs for ΔHt SDS and its sensitivity at a 95% specificity level to detect poor AH outcome were determined.ResultsEleven percent of the cohort had a total ΔHt SDS &lt;1.0. ROC curve testing of first and second years ΔHt SDS as a predictor for total ΔHt SDS &lt;1.0 had an AUC &gt;70%. First-year ΔHt SDS &lt;0.41 correctly identified 42% of the patients with poor AH outcome at a 95% specificity level, resulting in respectively 5/12 (4.6%) correctly identified poor final responders and 5/98 (4.5%) misclassified good final responders (ratio 1.0). ΔHt SDS after 2 prepubertal years had a cut-off level of 0.65 and a sensitivity of 50% at a 95% specificity level, resulting in respectively 6/12 (5.5%) correctly identified poor final responders and 5/98 (4.5%) misclassified good final responders (ratio 1.2).ConclusionIn GHD children the growth response after 2 prepubertal years of GH treatment did not meaningfully improve the prediction of poor AH outcome after GH treatment compared to first-year growth response parameters. Therefore, the decision to re-evaluate the diagnosis or adapt the GH dose in case of poor response after 1 year should not be postponed for another year.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Katarina Božić ◽  
Tatjana Milenković ◽  
Srđan Pašić ◽  
Katarina Mitrović ◽  
Slađana Todorović ◽  
...  

Introduction/Aim: Spondylodysplastic Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (sdEDS) is a rare genetic disorder of collagen synthesis, caused by a mutation in the B4GALT7, B3GALT6, or SLC39A13 gene. Features of this very rare disorder are short stature, hypotonia, hyperflexible joints, soft, thin, and overly stretchable skin, sparse hair and eyebrows, elderly face, wide forehead and prolonged wound healing. Molecular genetic analysis is needed for definite confirmation of the diagnosis. So far, only three case reports describing growth hormone treatment response in patients with sdEDS have been published. All of these patients had growth hormone (GH) deficiency. We present the first case report regarding growth hormone treatment response in a patient with sdEDS and normal GH secretion (without GH deficiency). Case report: Patient was a girl with short stature and normal GH secretion. Having in mind that the girl was born small for the gestational age, due to her short stature, she started using HR, before the diagnosis of sdEDS was made. Based on the lack of improvement in growth velocity as well as the girl's phenotype, genetic analyses were performed and the diagnosis of sdEDS due to biallelic mutations of the B4GALT7 gene was established. After the diagnosis of sdEDS was made and due to suboptimal response in growth velocity to the GH treatment, the GH therapy was stopped at the age of 11 years. Conclusion: This is a first case report regarding GH treatment in a child with sdEDS and normal GH secretion, demonstrating a very limited therapeutic effect of GH on linear growth in the presented patient.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Romano ◽  
Juan Pablo Kaski ◽  
Jovanna Dahlgren ◽  
Nicky Kelepouris ◽  
Alberto Pietropoli ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess cardiovascular (CV) safety of growth hormone (GH) treatment in patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) in clinical practice. Design: Two observational, multicentre studies (NordiNet® IOS and the ANSWER Program) evaluating long-term effectiveness and safety of GH in >38,000 paediatric patients, of which 421 had NS. Methods: Serious adverse events, serious adverse reactions (SARs), and non-serious adverse reactions (NSARs) were reported by the treating physicians. CV comorbidities at baseline and throughout the studies were also recorded. Results: The safety analysis set comprised 412 children with NS (29.1% females), with a mean (standard deviation) baseline age of 9.29 (3.88) years, treated with an average GH dose of 0.047 (0.014) mg/kg/day during childhood. CV comorbidities at baseline were reported in 48 (11.7%), most commonly pulmonary valve stenosis and atrial septal defects. Overall, 22 (5.3%) patients experienced 34 safety events. The most common were the NSARs: headache (eight events in seven patients) and arthralgia (five events in three patients). Two SARs occurred in one patient (brain neoplasm and metastases to spine). No CV safety events were recorded in patients with NS. Five CV comorbidities in five patients were reported after initiation of GH treatment: three cases of unspecified CV disease, one ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and one pulmonary valve stenosis. Conclusions: GH treatment had a favourable safety profile in patients with NS, including those with CV comorbidities. Prospective studies are warranted to systematically assess the safety of GH treatment in patients with Noonan syndrome and CV disease.


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