Is treatment with growth hormone effective in children with cerebral palsy?

Abstract

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have poor linear growth during childhood, resulting in a diminished final adult height. Here we report a female with CP and short stature but without growth hormone (GH) deficiency who exhibited increased growth during treatment with GH. We also report two other children with CP who were treated with GH: one female with a history of leukemia, and a male with Klinefelter syndrome. These two children were both found to be GH-deficient by insulin provocative GH testing and responded to treatment with increased growth rate. Growth improved to a greater extent in the two children with apparent GH deficiency. In summary, it is felt that GH therapy might be beneficial for children with CP and warrants further investigation.

• Authors: Melanie L Shim, Thomas Moshang Jr, William L Oppenheim, Pinchas Cohen
• Journal: Developmental medicine and child neurology (Dev Med Child Neurol) Vol. 46 Issue 8 Pg. 569-71 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 0012-1622 [Print] England
• PMID: 15287249 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Human Growth Hormone

Topics

• Body Height (drug effects)
• Cerebral Palsy (complications)
• Child
• Female
• Growth Disorders (complications, drug therapy)
• Human Growth Hormone (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Infant
• Klinefelter Syndrome (complications)
• Leukemia (complications)
• Male