TREATMENT OF PERIPUBERTAL CHILDREN AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION (RTX) WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE - AUXOLOGICAL DATA AND EFFECTS ON INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I (IGF-I) AND IGF-BINDING PROTEIN-3 (IGFBP-3) DURING 24 MONTHS

Objective: To evaluate growth and endocrine parameters in RTX children with GB treatment during 24 months. Subjects: 18 children (13 boys), age 13.1 yr (8.0-16.6), bone age 10.1 yr (5.4-15.3). Patients were 2.8 yr (0.5-7.5) after RTX and had immunosuppressive therapy, prednisone 0.16 mg/kg/d (0.08-0.68), Methods: GH (4 IU/m(2)/day s.c,) was given a nd patients were seen every 3 months for evaluation of height, height velocity, bone age, and hormone parameters. Serum IGF-I was determined by RIA, IGFBP-3 by RTA and Western ligand blotting (WLB), Renal funct ion and adverse effects (GFR, glucose tolerance, rejection episodes) w ere monitored. Results: Height (+1 SDS) and height velocity (+2.2 SDS) increased significantly during 24 months GH treatment, but Delta BA/D elta CA was 1.7 and 1.5 during the first and second treatment year, re spectively, and all patients entered puberty during the treatment peri od. GFR decreased slightly during 2 yr (p=0.048), two patients had chr onic rejection and GH therapy was terminated in one patient because of glucose intolerance. The ratio IGF-I/IGFBP-3 rose during the first ye ar (p=0.002) indicating more bioavailable IGF-I, IGFBP-3 determined by WLB was decreased, but IGFBP-1, -2 and -4 were elevated as compared t o a standard. Conclusions: GH treatment increased height and growth ra te in children after RTX, This may be due to significant changes in IG F-I and IGFBP-3 relationship. However, bone maturation was also accele rated thus diminishing height potential. From month 12 to 24 a continu ous decrease of IGF-I was observed. There was a slight but significant deterioration of graft function. Adverse events that led to terminati on of GH therapy were observed in 3 of 18 patients.