Isolated GH deficiency reduces dental arch growth

Growth hormone (GH) treatment may help increase some of the reductions in growth of the maxillary arch caused by isolated GH deficiency (IGHD), according to a study, which found growth reductions were greater in the maxillary arch than the mandibular arch in these patients.

This cross-sectional study included 22 adult patients with IGHD due to the same mutation in the GH releasing hormone receptor gene, who were living with very low serum GH and low to undetectable circulating insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF1) levels and 33 controls.

Of the patients with IGHD, 15 were previously untreated and 7 had previously undergone partial treatment with GH. Untreated patients had smaller maxillary arch measures than controls. However, regarding mandibular arches, these patients only had reductions in mandibular canine width and the mandibular arch length.

Patients who were partially treated had smaller palate depth, the maxillary canine width, the maxillary, and mandibular arch lengths compared to controls.

Reference
Girão RS, Aguiar-Oliveira MH, Andrade BMR, et al. Dental arches in inherited severe isolated growth hormone deficiency. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2022;62:101444. doi: 10.1016/j.ghir.2022.101444. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35151933.