Recombinant human growth hormone therapy in prepubertal children with short stature did not significantly improve overall aerobic capacity (VO2max) over one year, despite inducing favorable cardiac remodeling.
Cohort (n=30)
Does recombinant human growth hormone therapy improve aerobic capacity and cardiac function in prepubertal children with short stature?
In prepubertal children with short stature, 12 months of r-hGH therapy induces favorable cardiac remodeling and early subclinical improvements in myocardial contractility, but does not enhance aerobic capacity.
Absolute Event Rate: 47.1% vs 49.3%
p-value: p=0.371
Introduction Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) enhances somatic growth and body composition, yet its short-term effects on aerobic capacity and myocardial function remain unclear in short-statured children. Objective To assess changes in aerobic performance and cardiac morphology/function in prepubertal children with short stature undergoing r-hGH therapy, using conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Material and methods This prospective longitudinal study included 30 prepubertal children (18 with GH deficiency GHD, 12 non-GHD including 6 small for gestational age SGA and 6 idiopathic short stature ISS). Participants received r-hGH for 12 months. Assessments at baseline, 6, and 12 months included anthropometry, VO 2 max (Bruce protocol), and cardiac function (including global longitudinal strain GLS and strain rate GLSR via STE). Adherence was monitored electronically. Results r-hGH significantly increased IGF-1 and left ventricular mass indices. VO 2 max showed no overall improvement; a significant decrease was observed in GHD children, particularly girls, despite high adherence. Only GHD males exhibited supranormal VO 2 max values at baseline, and this pattern persisted at 12 months. GLSR improved significantly at 6 months in GHD patients, indicating early myocardial response to GH therapy, although GLS remained unchanged. No correlation was found between VO 2 max evolution and cardiac parameters. Conclusions While r-hGH therapy led to favorable cardiac remodeling and early subclinical improvements in myocardial contractility in GHD children, no enhancement in aerobic capacity was observed over one year. STE proved valuable for detecting early cardiac adaptations to GH therapy. Further studies with longer follow-up and larger cohorts are warranted to clarify the functional implications of these structural changes.
I et al. (Thu,) conducted a cohort in Short stature (n=30). Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) vs. Baseline was evaluated on Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) at 12 months (p=0.371). Recombinant human growth hormone therapy in prepubertal children with short stature did not significantly improve overall aerobic capacity (VO2max) over one year, despite inducing favorable cardiac remodeling.