RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT AT LOW-DOSES DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THYROID-FUNCTION IN GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENT ADULTS

Pituitary-thyroid changes have been reported during recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy at the dose commonly used in prepuberty. We have previously demonstrated that low doses of rhGH were able to n ormalize body composition and both cardiac structure and function in g rowth hormone deficient adults (GHDA), without causing any of the side effects described when the GHDA were treated with doses commonly empl oyed in the GHD children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the be haviour of pituitary-thyroid parameters in GHDA undergoing such a low dose of rhGH treatment. We studied 9 (2 females and 7 males, 25-34 yr) GHDA, 7 congenital and 2 acquired GH deficiency, before, during and a fter a 12-month rhGH treatment at dose of 10 mu g/kg/day (= 70 mu g/kg /week) divided in 3 injections, administered sc at 20:00 h on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, respectively. (C) 1996, Editrice Kurtis