Effect of Recombinant Growth Hormone Treatment on Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children with Craniopharyngioma Treated by Surgery

Objective To discuss the effectiveness and safety of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) replacement treatment in growth hormone deficiency(GHD) children with craniopharyngioma after surgical treatment. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed the records of 12 outpatients with secondary GHD who were treated with rhGH at Department of Neuroendocrinology,Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital from Apr.2008 to Apr.2011.All children(aged 7-15 years) were pathologically diagnosed as craniopharyngioma after surgery,and their follow-up data were included in this analysis.All of the 12 children were given rhGH via subcutaneous injection daily in every evening in original dose of 0.1 IU·kg-1,5 days per week,and the course of treatment ranged from 3 to 36 months.Biochemical tests,including liver function,kidney function and plasma hormones concentrations,were arranged regularly.Data of height,weight,growth velocity,standard deviation scoring(SDS),serum insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1),bone age were recorded and compared before and after the rhGH treatment. Results After one year rhGH replacement therapy,the growth velocities of 12 patients were significantly increased from(2.2±1.3) cm·a-1 to(6.63±4.97) cm·a-1(P0.01),SDS had changed from-3.3±2.3 to-3.2± 2.8(P0.01),and IGF-1 concentrations were increased from(38±64) μg·L-1 to(173±167) μg·L-1(reaching the normal range)(P0.01).During the treatment,biochemical tests were in normal range,and there was no speed-up development in the bone age.No tumor recurrence was found by the time of following-up. Conclusions The low dose GH replacement therapy is effective and financially economical in secondary GHD children with craniopharyngioma after surgical treatment.Evaluating and monitoring the states of patients′ condition before and during rhGH therapy is necessary to ensure the safety of treatment.