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Paul Saenger, Kenneth M. Attie, Joan DiMartino-Nardi, Raymond Hintz, Lindley Frahm, James W. Frane, Metabolic Consequences of 5-Year Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy in Children Treated with GH for Idiopathic Short Stature, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 83, Issue 9, 1 September 1998, Pages 3115–3120, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.83.9.5089
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In a multicenter study the metabolic effects of 5 yr of GH therapy in children with idiopathic short stature were evaluated. Patients received 0.3 mg/kg·week recombinant human GH. Of the 121 patients who entered the study, data for 62 were analyzed at the final 5 yr point. Routine laboratory determinations were available for all 62 subjects at the 5 yr point. Special laboratory determinations, such as postprandial glucose and insulin, were available for only a subset of patients. Mean insulin-like growth factor I levels rose to 283 ± 101 μg/L, within the normal range using age-appropriate reference standards. T4, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood chemistries, and blood pressure showed no significant changes during the 5-yr period. Mean baseline and 2-h postprandial glucose levels remained unchanged. Both fasting and postprandial insulin levels rose substantively from low normal levels to the normal range (median, 4.9–43 mU/L). Mean hemoglobin A1c levels remained within the normal range throughout the study.
In summary, careful monitoring has not revealed any currently discernible metabolic side-effects of clinical significance after GH therapy in this 5-yr study of children with idiopathic short stature.