Effect of growth hormone therapy on thyroid function in isolated growth hormone deficient and short small for gestational age children: a two-year study, including on assessment of the usefulness of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test.

Background The relationship between growth hormone (GH)-replacement therapy and the thyroid axis in GH-deficient (GHD) children remains controversial. Furthermore, there have been few reports regarding non-GHD children. We aimed to determine the effect of GH therapy on thyroid function in GHD and non-GHD children and to assess whether thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test is helpful for the identification of central hypothyroidism before GH therapy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from patients that started GH therapy between 2005 and 2015. The free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were measured before and during 24 months of GH therapy. The participants were 149 children appropriate for gestational age with GHD (IGHD: isolated GHD) (group 1), 29 small for gestational age (SGA) children with GHD (group 2), and 25 short SGA children (group 3). Results In groups 1 and 2, but not in group 3, serum FT4 concentration transiently decreased. Two IGHD participants exhibited central hypothyroidism during GH therapy, and required levothyroxine (LT4) replacement. They showed either delayed and/or prolonged responses to TRH stimulation tests before start of GH therapy. Conclusions GH therapy had little pharmacological effect on thyroid function, similar changes in serum FT4 concentrations were not observed in participants with SGA but not GHD cases who were administered GH at a pharmacological dose. However, two IGHD participants showed central hypothyroidism and needed LT4 replacement therapy during GH therapy. TRH stimulation test before GH therapy could identify such patients and provoke careful follow-up evaluation of serum FT4 and TSH concentrations.

Effects of Growth Hormone Treatment on Lipid Profiles.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of growth hormone (GH) on lipid profiles in children and whether the effect is pharmacological. METHODS: The authors determined serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) every year during 3-y GH treatment in 48 GH deficient (GHD) short children and 22 children with short stature born small for gestational age (SGA). RESULTS: The abnormally high levels of TC, non-HDL-C, and LDL-C showed a high frequency in GHD short children compared with epidemiological studies in Japan. The high prevalence of high level of TC was also shown in SGA short children. Three-year GH treatment decreased serum TC, non-HDL-C, and LDL-C levels in both patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: GH treatment is clearly a pharmacological therapy in SGA short children and so may also be in GHD short children at the Japanese standard therapeutic dose. Taken together, GH improves lipid profiles, and its effect has the possibility of medical properties.

Usefulness of non-fasting lipid parameters in children.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed whether non-fasting lipid markers could be substituted for fasting markers in screening for dyslipidemia, whether direct measurement of non-fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C (D)] could be substituted for the calculation of fasting LDL-C [LDL-C (F)], and the utility of measuring non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). METHODS: In 33 children, the lipid profile was measured in the non-fasting and fasting states within 24 h. Correlations were examined between non-fasting LDL-C (D) or non-HDL-C levels and fasting LDL-C (F) levels. RESULTS: Non-fasting triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C (D), and non-HDL-C levels were all significantly higher than the fasting levels, but the mean difference was within 10% (except for TG). Non-fasting LDL-C (D) and non-HDL-C levels were strongly correlated with the fasting LDL-C (F) levels. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, except for TG, non-fasting lipid parameters are useful when screening children for dyslipidemia. Direct measurement of non-fasting LDL-C and calculation of non-fasting non-HDL-C could replace the calculation of fasting LDL-C because of convenience.

Progressive brain atrophy in Schinzel-Giedion syndrome with a SETBP1 mutation.

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is a rare congenital malformation syndrome. Recently, SETBP1 was identified as the causative gene. Herein, we present a Japanese boy with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome resulting from a novel mutation in SETBP1 in order to establish the clinical features and serial MRI findings associated with the syndrome. On the third day of life, the boy was referred to our hospital because of facial abnormalities and feeding difficulty. Midfacial retraction, frontal bossing, deep groove under the eyes, upturned nose, low-set ears, bilateral cryptorchidism, and generalized hypertrichosis were identified on admission. At the age of 7 months, epileptic spasms in series occurred. Based on characteristic facial and skeletal abnormalities and severe developmental delay, we clinically diagnosed him with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome. Direct sequencing of the SETBP1 gene revealed a heterozygous mutation (p.Ile871Ser) in exon 4. Although neither cardiac defect nor choanal stenosis were present in our case, the phenotype of our case was nearly identical to those of previously reported cases confirmed by genetic analysis. Serial MRI from the age of 1 month-3 years revealed progressive brain atrophy, especially in the white matter and basal ganglia. However, myelination was age-appropriate and no obvious abnormal signals in the white matter were seen. Diffusion weighted imaging revealed no abnormal findings. Accumulation of MRI data including diffusion weighted imaging from Schinzel-Giedion syndrome cases is needed to understand the mechanism underlying progressive brain atrophy in this syndrome.