A study of chromosomal aberrations and chromosomal fragility after recombinant growth hormone treatment

Increased chromosomal rearrangements and chromosomal fragility have been pr eviously observed in lymphocytes of children treated with human GH, implyin g that treatment could predispose to malignancy. Twenty-four children with classic GH deficiency, neurosecretory CH dysfunction, and Turner syndrome w ere treated with recombinant human GH (0.3 mg.kg(-1).wk(-1)). Metaphase cel ls were assessed for spontaneous chromosomal and chromatid aberrations at b aseline and 6 mo into treatment. There were no significant differences in a berrations between baseline and the 6-mo samples. However, the mean frequen cy of chromatid-type aberrations on a per cell basis was significantly high er than at baseline, 0.0088 versus 0.0064 aberrations per cell (p < 0.024). Two patients contributed inordinately to this increase. A third sample fro m these two patients was almost identical to their baseline samples. Cells were also irradiated in vitro (3 Cy) to assess chromosomal fragility. After irradiation, no patient showed a significant difference for any aberration type, although there was a significantly lower frequency of ring chromosom es on a per cell basis in the 6-mo samples (p < 0.001). We find no evidence that GH therapy influences spontaneous chromosomal aberrations or chromoso mal fragility.