Does long-term GH replacement therapy effect bone density?

A new study analyzed bone density in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency treated with growth hormone replacement therapy over 10 years.

After 10 years of treatment with growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy, patients with adult GH deficient (AGHD) did not experience significant changes in and trabecular bone score (TBS), according to a study.

This prospective study included 63 patients with AGHD who received subcutaneous recombinant human GH in an IGF 1-normalizing regimen once per day.

IGF-1 significantly increased (approximately 35 %) after 10 years of GH treatment, with the greatest increase incurring at year 2. L-spine bone mineral density (BMD) increased approximately 7% and total hip BMD increased 11 % during the 10-year follow-up period, with the greatest increment of BMD achieved at year 6, with +6% for L-spine and +13% for TH BMD.

No significant change in TBS was noted during the follow-up period.

Reference
Vaňuga P, Kužma M, Stojkovičová D, et al. The Long-Term Effects of Growth Hormone Replacement on Bone Mineral Density and Trabecular Bone Score: Results of the 10-Year Prospective Follow-up. Physiol Res. 2021;70(Suppl 1):S61-S68. PMID: 34918530.