Hepatic adenoma associated with recombinant human growth hormone therapy in a patient with Turner's syndrome

Background: Turner's syndrome is a genetic disorder of females with well-de scribed karyotypic abnormalities and phenotypic features. Recombinant human growth hormone (HGH) therapy is one component of a hormonal treatment stra tegy for these patients and is used to promote sexual maturity and to incre ase height. Methods: Literature review of hepatic complications following t he initiation of growth hormone therapy for patients with Turner's syndrome , and case report presentation of a 13-year-old female with Turner's syndro me developing a hepatic adenoma following 3 years of HGH treatment. Results : The association between Turner's syndrome and HGH treatment-associated he patic adenoma has not been described previous to this report. In this patie nt, surgical resection was contraindicated and the patient was successfully treated by hepatic artery embolization. The unique management issues relat ing to this case, and a possible association between HGH therapy and the de velopment of hepatic adenoma are discussed. Conclusion: This work represent s the first documentation of a hepatic adenoma developing in a patient with Turner's syndrome following HGH treatment, and suggests a novel and causal association between HGH treatment and the development of hepatic adenoma i n patients with Turner's syndrome. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.