Growth hormone treatment may be beneficial in childhood leukemia survivors with GHD
Survivors of childhood leukemia who are diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) due to intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment may see an improvement in height from growth hormone (GH) treatment, according to a study.
Researchers analyzed data from 24 children with GHD after leukemia treatment, of which 19 children received GH treatment. The median age at the time of GHD diagnosis was 12.3 years, and the median delay in bone age was 1.46 years.
Height SDS decreased from -0.69 at the time of leukemia diagnosis to -2.58 at GHD diagnosis (p < 0.001).
There was a positive correlation between a higher height standard deviation score (SDS) at GHD diagnosis and less decrease of the height SDS between leukemia diagnosis and GHD diagnosis.
“Height SDS at GHD diagnosis and decrement of height SDS between leukemia and GHD diagnosis could be a potential factor in predicting the therapeutic effect. Close auxological monitoring is recommended for any childhood leukemia survivors who experience post-treatment height decline,” the authors concluded.
Reference
Shin C, Jang MJ, Kim S, et al. Short-term effect of growth hormone treatment in childhood leukemia survivors with growth hormone deficiency. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab; 2022;doi: 10.6065/apem.2244028.014. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35798300.