LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH GROWTH-HORMONE

An association between treatment with growth hormone (GH) and the deve lopment of leukemia was described in 1988. This perceived association is best explained by the fact that there are more children with GH def iciency (GHD) with risk factors predisposing them to leukemia than in the general population. These factors include previous cancers and the ir treatment, as well as co-existing conditions such as Down, Bloom an d Fanconi syndromes. Examination of large databases of GH-treated indi viduals shows that GH-treated patients without these risk factors do n ot have increased incidence of leukemia.