scholarly journals Lipoatrophy associated with daily growth hormone injections

Author(s):  
Priya Darshani Chhiba ◽  
David Segal

Summary Recombinant human growth hormone therapy (rhGH) has been available since 1985 for a variety of conditions and has expanded the indications for rhGH therapy and the number of patients receiving therapy. The very nature of the therapy exposes individuals to years of injections. There are a number of well-known adverse events, however, a lesser-known and rarely reported adverse event of rhGH therapy is localized lipoatrophy. We report nine cases of localized lipoatrophy during rhGH therapy accounting for 14.5% of patients taking rhGH presenting to a single centre for routine follow-up over just a 2-month period. The development of localized lipoatrophy does not appear to be age, indication or dose-related but rather related to repeated administration of rhGH into a limited number of sites. The most likely putative mechanism is the local lipolytic action of growth hormone (GH) itself, although the possibility of an excipient-based interaction cannot be excluded. Given the high prevalence of this adverse event and the potential to prevent it with adequate site rotation, we can recommend that patients be informed of the possible development of localized lipoatrophy. Doctors and nurses should closely examine injection sites at each visit, and site rotation should be emphasized during injection technique education. Learning points There are a number of well-known adverse events, however, a lesser-known and rarely reported adverse event of rhGH therapy is localized lipoatrophy. Examination of the injection sites at each visit by the treating healthcare practitioner. To advise the parents/caregivers/patients to change their injection site with each injection. To advise the parents/caregivers/patients to change the needles after every use. For parents, caregivers and patients to self-inspect their injection sites and have a high alert for the development of lipoatrophy and to then immediately report it to their doctor.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 5100
Author(s):  
Ewelina Witkowska-Sędek ◽  
Anna Małgorzata Kucharska ◽  
Małgorzata Rumińska ◽  
Monika Paluchowska ◽  
Beata Pyrżak

Background: Hypothyroidism in children leads to growth retardation. However, there is some evidence that recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy could suppress thyroid function. The most common observation in rhGH-treated patients is a decrease in thyroxine levels, which is reported as transient, but the studies in the field are inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate thyroid function in initially euthyroid children with idiopathic isolated GH deficiency during long-term rhGH therapy and to determine who is at a higher risk of thyroid function alterations during the therapy. Methods: The study group consisted of 101 children treated with rhGH for at least three years. Serum TSH and fT4 levels were determined at baseline, after the first six months and after each full year of therapy. The associations between changes in thyroid hormone levels during rhGH therapy and GH deficit, insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and growth response were investigated. Results: A significant decrease in fT4 levels (p = 0.01) was found as early as after the first six months of rhGH therapy. This effect persisted in the subsequent years of treatment without any significant changes in TSH values and tended to be rhGH dose related. Children with a greater fT4 decrease after the initiation of rhGH therapy were older, had higher bone age and responded to that therapy worse than children with lower fT4 changes. Conclusions: Our study revealed a long-term decrease in fT4 levels during rhGH therapy in initially euthyroid GHD children. The decrease in fT4 levels was associated with a lower growth response to rhGH therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 5354
Author(s):  
Anna Małgorzata Kucharska ◽  
Ewelina Witkowska-Sędek ◽  
Małgorzata Rumińska ◽  
Beata Pyrżak

The alterations in thyroid function during recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment have been reported by many authors since this therapy became widely available for patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Decrease of thyroxine level is the most frequent observation in patients treated with rhGH. This paper presents literature data describing changes in thyroid function related to rhGH therapy and a current explanation of mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. The effect of GH on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is dependent on a multilevel regulation beginning from influence on the central axis, thyroid, and extra-thyroidal deiodinases activity as well as the impact on thyroid hormone receptors on the end. Changes in central and peripheral regulation could overlap during rhGH therapy, resulting in central hypothyroidism or an isolated slight deficiency of thyroxine. The regular monitoring of thyroid function is recommended in patients treated with rhGH and the decision of levothyroxine (L-thyroxine) supplementation should be made in the clinical context, taking into account thyroid hormone levels, as well as the chance for satisfactory growth improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 997-1002
Author(s):  
Wang Xi ◽  
Jangfeng Mao ◽  
Shuying Li ◽  
Yaling Zhao ◽  
Min Nie ◽  
...  

Objective: Patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) typically suffer from short stature due to early exposure to adrenal-derived androgen. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adding aromatase inhibitor (AI) to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue (GnRHa) and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy would increase the height of patients with 21OHD. Methods: This retrospective study included 15 patients with 21OHD. The AI/GnRHa/rhGH group consisted of 9 patients, who were treated with AI for at least 12 months in addition to GnRHa/rhGH therapy. The other 6 patients, who received GnRHa/rhGH therapy only, were defined as the GnRHa/rhGH group. Results: Patients were 6.3 ± 1.7 years old, and 7/15 of patients were male. Among them, 12 patients exhibited simple virilization type, and 3 patients were salt-wasting type. In the AI/GnRHa/rhGH group, patients were 6.6 ± 2.0 years old when AI therapy was initiated. Their bone age was 5.9 ± 2.2 years ahead of their chronological age. They received the AI letrizole for an average of 25.1 months (range, 12 to 37 months). In the GnRHa/rhGH group, the patients were 5.9 ± 0.9 years old when they started GnRHa/rhGH therapy, and their bone age was 6.2 ± 1.7 years ahead of their chronological age. Patients received GnRHa/rhGH therapy for an average of 24.5 months (range, 12 to 41 months). The predicted final height increased from 145.9 ± 7.9 to 158.0 ± 8.4 cm in the AI/GnRHa/rhGH group ( P = .001, compared with the baseline) and from 141.7 ± 2.7 to 150.7 ± 4.7 cm in the GnRHa/rhGH group ( P = .001, compared with the baseline). Bone age progression was 0.15 ± 0.05 per year versus 0.44 ± 0.13 per year in the two groups, respectively ( P = .032). Conclusion: Addition of letrizole to GnRHa/rhGH therapy significantly delays bone maturation and may increase the final height. Abbreviations: 21OHD = 21-hydroxylase deficiency; AI = aromatase inhibitor; CAH = congenital adrenal hyperplasia; GH = growth hormone; GnRHa = gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1; LH = luteinizing hormone; rhGH = recombinant human growth hormone


2001 ◽  
Vol 171 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Khalfallah ◽  
G Sassolas ◽  
F Borson-Chazot ◽  
N Vega ◽  
H Vidal

Our aim was to investigate the effects of one year recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on the regulation by insulin of gene expression in muscle and adipose tissue in adults with secondary GH deficiency (GHD). Six GHD subjects without upper-body obesity were submitted to a 3-h euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp before and after one year of rhGH therapy. Muscle and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were taken before and at the end of each clamp. The mRNA levels of insulin receptor, p85 alpha-phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (p85 alpha PI-3K), insulin dependent glucose transporter (Glut4), hexokinase II, glycogen synthase, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in muscle and in adipose tissue, hormone sensitive lipase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) in adipose tissue were quantified by RT-competitive PCR. One year treatment with rhGH (1.25 IU/day) increased plasma IGF-I concentrations (54+/-7 vs 154+/-11 ng/ml, P<0.01) but did not affect insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rate measured during the hyperinsulinemic clamp (74+/-9 vs 85+/-5 micromol/kg free fat mass/min). Insulin significantly increased p85 alpha PI-3K, hexokinase II and Glut4 mRNA levels in muscle both before and after rhGH treatment. One year of GH therapy increased LPL mRNA levels in muscle (38+/-2 vs 70+/-7 amol/microg total RNA, P<0.05) and in adipose tissue (2490+/-260 vs 4860+/-880 amol/microg total RNA, P<0.05), but did not change the expression of the other mRNAs. We conclude from this study that GH therapy did not alter whole body insulin sensitivity and the response of gene expression to insulin in skeletal muscle of adult GHD patients, but it did increase LPL expression in muscle and adipose tissue. This result could be related to the documented beneficial effect of GH therapy on lipid metabolism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A686-A686
Author(s):  
Jane Loftus ◽  
Yong Chen ◽  
Jose Ma J Alvir ◽  
Lei Chi ◽  
Shibasish Dasgupta ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Pediatric growth hormone deficiency (pGHD) occurs in approximately 1 in 4,000 children. The main manifestation is short stature managed with daily injections of somatropin, a recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH). Prior research has shown that children with good adherence with r-hGH have significantly greater linear growth compared to those with sub-optimal adherence. While previous studies have found sub-optimal adherence with daily r-hGH injectables among children with pGHD, to date, r-hGH adherence has not been studied among large, usual-care populations using validated measurements of adherence. We describe adherence to somatropin treatment over 4 years in a population-based study. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of commercially insured patients ≥3 and &lt;16 years, diagnosed with pGHD, newly treated with somatropin from 01 January 2002 through 31 December 2019 (study time period) was conducted using Optum De-identified Clinformatics Data Mart database. Index date was defined as the first prescription for somatropin between 01 July 2002 to 30 September 2019. Four patient cohorts were identified (12, 24, 36, and 48 months of post-index continuous enrollment). The demographic and clinical profiles of children with pGHD treated with daily injections of somatropin who have good adherence and those with sub-optimal adherence were characterized. Good adherence was defined as medication possession ratio (MPR) of ≥ 80%, sub-optimal adherence as MPR &lt;80%. Logistic regression models will evaluate the relationship between demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and adherence (good vs. sub-optimal). Results: Patient characteristics were similar across each cohort; in the 12-month cohort (n=3091), mean age was 11.34 ±2.89 years, 75.9% were male, 70.9% white, 9.4% Hispanic, 3.6% Asian, and 3.1% black. At 48 months, 1193 (38.6%) of the 12-month cohort remained for follow-up. At 12 months, 80.1% had good adherence and mean (95% CI) MPR was 0.89 (0.88-0.89) while mean (95% CI) MPR at 48 months was 0.82 (0.81-0.83). The proportion with good adherence at months 24, 36, and 48 were 70.2%, 65.6%, and 64.0%, respectively. Adherence was not associated with age or gender. Blacks and Hispanics consistently exhibited lower adherence. At 12 months, good adherence was observed among 85.7% of Asians, 80.0% of whites, 77.2% of Hispanics, and 76.0% of blacks; at 48 months, good adherence was observed among 73.9% of Asians, 65.4% of whites, 56.8% of blacks, and 55.2% of Hispanics. Logistic regression model results will be provided. Conclusion: Although the majority of children with pGHD demonstrated good adherence with a daily r-hGH regimen, sub-optimal adherence increases with treatment duration and is higher among black and Hispanic children. Strategies that facilitate good adherence to r-hGH may support improved clinical outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Li ◽  
Fei Cheng ◽  
Lei Xiu

Objective This study sought to determine the effect of the recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment of Turner syndrome (TS) on height outcome. Methods We searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. A literature search identified 640 records. After screening and full-text assessment, 11 records were included in the systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. We also assessed the quality of evidence with the GRADE system. Results Compared with controls, rhGH therapy led to increased final height (MD = 7.22 cm, 95% CI 5.27–9.18, P < 0.001, I2 = 4%; P = 0.18), height standard deviation (HtSDS) (SMD = 1.22, 95% CI 0.88–1.56, P < 0.001, I2 = 49%; P = 0.14) and height velocity (HV) (MD 2.68 cm/year; 95% CI 2.34, 3.02; P < 0.001, I2 = 0%; P = 0.72). There was a small increase in bone age (SMD 0.32 years; 95% CI 0.1, 0.54; P = 0.004, I2 = 73%; P = 0.02) after rhGH therapy for 12 months. What is more, the rhGH/oxandrolone combination therapy suggested greater final height (MD 2.46 cm; 95% CI 0.73, 4.18; P = 0.005, I2 = 32%; P = 0.22), increase and faster HV (SMD 1.67 cm/year; 95% CI 1.03, 2.31; P < 0.03, I2 = 80%; P < 0.001), with no significant increase in HtSDS and bone maturation compared with rhGH therapy alone. Conclusions For TS patients, rhGH alone or with concomitant use of oxandrolone treatment had advantages on final height.


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