SLEEP-APNEA IN PATIENTS RECEIVING GROWTH-HORMONE

Among 145 patients treated with recombinant human growth hormone (GH), four developed sleep apnea (two obstructive, two mixed) associated wi th tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy in three. These four patients h ad no local risk factors predisposing to upper airway obstruction (i.e ., frequent pharyngitis or sinusitis). Clinical and/or polysomnographi c features of sleep apnea improved following cessation of CH therapy i n one patient, and following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in all pa tients. The present observations indicate that, albeit rarely, obstruc tive and/or central sleep apnea may occur in children treated with GH. Polysomnography should be considered if symptoms of snoring, interrup ted sleep, daytime somnolence-particularly if associated with tonsilla r hypertrophy-appear in children during GH therapy.