EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT IN INTRAUTERINEGROWTH-RETARDED PRETERM NEWBORN-INFANTS ON GROWTH, BODY-COMPOSITION AND ENERGY-EXPENDITURE
L. Vantoledoeppinga et al., EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT IN INTRAUTERINEGROWTH-RETARDED PRETERM NEWBORN-INFANTS ON GROWTH, BODY-COMPOSITION AND ENERGY-EXPENDITURE, Acta paediatrica, 85(4), 1996, pp. 476-481
The effects of recombinant human growth hormone treatment during the e
arly postnatal period on growth, body composition and energy expenditu
re were studied in seven intrauterine growth-retarded newborns. Seven
infants were studied as controls. No differences were seen in bodyweig
ht or height gain (15.9 +/- 1.5 g/kg per day and 1.02 +/- 0.24 cm/week
in the treated and 16.3 +/- 1.4 g/kg per day and 1.11 +/- 0.30 cm/wee
k in the control group). Skinfold growth rate was 0.52 +/- 0.20 mm/wee
k in the treated vs. 0.56 +/- 0.28 mm/week in the control group. Total
body water (as a percentage of bodyweight, 80 +/- 3.0% vs. 80 +/- 4.0
%) and energy expenditure (67.5 +/- 7.4 vs. 66.7 +/- 6.4 kcal/kg per d
ay) using H-2(2) O-18 showed identical results in both groups. We conc
lude that recombinant human growth hormone treatment directly after bi
rth in intrauterine growth-retarded newborn infants results neither in
an increase in growth rate nor a change in body composition or energy
expenditure during the early postnatal period.