Growth hormone treatment increases CO2 response, ventilation and central inspiratory drive in children with Prader-Willi syndrome

We studied whether the beneficial effects of growth hormone (GI-I) treatmen t on growth and body composition in PWS are accompanied by an improvement i n respiratory function. We measured resting ventilation, airway occlusion p ressure (P-0.1) and ventilatory response to CO? in nine children, aged 7-14 years, before and 6-9 months after the start of GH treatment. During GH tr eatment, resting ventilation increased by 26%, P-0.1 by 72% and the respons e to CO2 by 65% (P < 0.002, <0.04 and <0.02, respectively). This observed i ncrease in ventilatory output was not correlated to changes in body mass in dex. Conclusion Treatment of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) seems to have a stimulatory effect on central respiratory structures. The observed i ncrease in ventilation and inspiratory drive may contribute to the improved activity level reported by parents of PWS children during growth hormone t herapy.